In a landmark shift for Czech politics, the leaders of three opposition parties formally signed a coalition agreement on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Czech Parliament in Prague, establishing a new majority government poised to challenge EU policies on climate, migration, and foreign aid. Andrej Babiš, the 71-year-old billionaire founder of the ANO (YES) movement and former prime minister, will return to lead the cabinet after his party's resounding victory in the October 3-4 parliamentary elections.
The pact unites ANO with the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), led by Tomio Okamura, and the anti-Green Deal Motorists for Themselves (Motoristé sobě), headed by Petr Macinka. Together, the trio commands 108 seats in the 200-member Chamber of Deputies, securing a comfortable majority to replace the outgoing center-right coalition under Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The agreement, signed amid flashes of cameras and mutual accolades, outlines a 16-member cabinet, programmatic priorities, and leadership roles in parliament.
ANO, which captured 34.7% of the vote and approximately 80 seats in the election, will dominate the government. Babiš's party secures the premiership and nine ministries: Finance, Industry and Trade, Health, Labor and Social Affairs, Education, Interior, Regional Development, Justice, and a yet-to-be-specified additional portfolio. SPD, with around 15-18 seats from its 7.8% vote share, takes three key posts—Defense, Agriculture, and Transport—while the Motorists, the smallest partner with about 13-15 seats from 6.8%, gains four: Foreign Affairs, Culture, Environment, and a newly created Ministry of Sport, Prevention, and Public Health.
In parliament, SPD's Okamura, a vocal critic of the EU and NATO, is nominated as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, a powerful position that controls legislative agendas. ANO proposes Patrik Nacher as First Vice-Speaker, and the Motorists nominate Jiří Barták as another deputy. The coalition has reduced vice-speakers from six to four, signaling a leaner structure.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Babiš emphasized unity: "We were united by our shared goal of replacing the outgoing government. We will fight for the interests of the Czech Republic at all levels—in the European Union, in NATO, and in the wider international community." Okamura hailed it as "the end of a government that harmed Czech interests," while Macinka called it "the first step toward change demanded by voters."
The deal caps weeks of intense negotiations that began immediately after ANO's landslide win. President Petr Pavel, a former NATO general, tasked Babiš with forming the government on October 27, urging a "pro-Western" orientation and preservation of democratic institutions. Pavel has expressed concerns over potential ministers questioning Czechia's EU or NATO membership, but Babiš has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to both alliances, rejecting SPD's calls for referendums on withdrawal.
Election Recap: A Voter Revolt Against Austerity and Brussels
The October elections marked a decisive rejection of Fiala's five-party center-right government, which had prioritized fiscal discipline, Ukraine aid, and EU integration amid post-COVID recovery and energy crises. ANO's 34.7% dwarfed the Spolu coalition's 23.2%, with other parties like Mayors and Independents (STAN) at 11.2% and Pirates at 8.9% failing to bridge the gap.
Voters, weary of inflation spikes and perceived elite disconnect, rallied behind Babiš's promises of higher pensions, wages, tax cuts for families, and "Czechs first" policies. ANO campaigned on scrapping household contributions to the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS2), opposing the 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars, and redirecting funds from foreign aid to domestic needs.
SPD and Motorists amplified anti-establishment sentiments. Okamura's party, blending nationalism with anti-immigrant rhetoric, appealed to rural and working-class voters skeptical of Brussels. Macinka's Motorists, born from Prague's anti-bike-lane protests and rebranded under Václav Klaus's influence, surged on climate skepticism and motorist rights, entering parliament for the first time.
Policy Shifts: Domestic Boosts, EU Tensions Ahead
The coalition's draft agenda prioritizes economic relief: transferring renewable energy surcharges from bills to the state budget, boosting military spending toward NATO's 3.5% GDP target (plus 1.5% for infrastructure), and rejecting EU migration pacts. On Ukraine, Babiš pledges to end direct budget aid and scrap the Czech-led ammunition initiative, criticizing it as "overpriced." This marks a pivot from Fiala's staunch support for Kyiv, potentially straining relations with allies.
Domestically, expect hikes in social spending, infrastructure investments, and protections for traditional industries. The new Sport and Prevention Ministry underscores a focus on public health and youth. However, analysts warn of fiscal risks—Babiš's pledges could balloon deficits, testing Czechia's frugal reputation.
Brussels Watches Warily: A New Orbán Ally?
EU officials brace for friction. Babiš, a self-styled "Trumpist" and Orbán admirer, vows to block ETS2 and Green Deal elements, risking infringement proceedings. His allies amplify Euroscepticism: SPD opposes NATO expansion, Motorists decry "green fanaticism." Yet Babiš insists on pragmatic ties, citing EU funds' importance for his Agrofert empire.
President Pavel's veto power over ministers adds uncertainty. He has signaled scrutiny of nominees like potential Foreign Minister Filip Turek, embroiled in past scandal over alleged racist posts (denied by Motorists).
Reactions: Triumph and Alarm
Domestically, supporters celebrate. "Truth has prevailed!" tweeted Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Opposition decries a "scandalous" Okamura speakership and fears democratic backsliding.
Internationally, Kyiv worries over aid cuts; Berlin and Warsaw eye border tensions. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged continuity on defense.
Babiš aims for cabinet approval by mid-December, with a confidence vote soon after. The constituent session on November 3 elected Okamura speaker, solidifying the bloc.
Broader Implications for Central Europe
This government echoes populist waves in Hungary and Slovakia, forming a Visegrád bloc challenging EU orthodoxy. It tests Brussels' cohesion amid migration debates and net-zero goals. For Czechs, it promises relief but risks isolation.
As Babiš returns to Strakovka Academy, his mantra—"Make Czechia the best place to live in the EU"—will define this era. Whether it delivers prosperity or division remains the question for 10 million citizens.
