The opposition movement ANO emerged victorious in the European Parliament elections in the Czech Republic, securing seven seats with 26.14% of the vote. The coalition “Together” (ODS, TOP 09, KDU-ČSL) secured the second position with 22.27% and six seats. The third place took the coalition “Oath and Motorists” (Přísaha a Motoristé), led by Filip Turek. With 10.26% of the votes, the coalition holds two seats in the European Parliament. The Communist Party (KSČM) and left-wing parties’ subsequent coalition, “Enough!” secured 9.56% of the vote. The “Mayors” party received 8.7% of the votes. The parties received two seats each. The “Pirates” received 6.2% of the votes, while the coalition of SPD and “Tricolour” received 5.73%, securing one mandate for each party.
The ANO movement won in all regions except Prague, while the coalition “Together” won in the capital. 21 MEPs were elected. A total of 10 of the 14 MEPs who were seeking re-election successfully defended their seats.
In April 2024, a Eurobarometer survey revealed that Czech voters prioritise defence, migration, and energy independence in the European elections. They also viewed climate change and public health as less pressing concerns.
The European Parliament elections in the Czech Republic, where the government coordinates the procurement of ammunition for Ukraine and where a portion of the defence production is located, concluded with a victory for opposition parties that are opposed to the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
Former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the leader of the opposition party, accused the government before the elections of merely lobbying for the interests of “arms barons,” sending low-quality ammunition to Ukrainians, while it should focus on “peace initiatives.” At the same time, Babiš himself is a populist, a billionaire, and also a media mogul who used his position as prime minister for targeted legal persecution of businesses that did not cooperate, according to the leaked documents in the national media. At the same time, his friends were running a business under the full protection of the prime minister, as in the Čapí hnízdo (Stork’s Nest) case, when Babiš was accused of illegally and purposefully claiming a EUR 2 million (roughly CZK 50 million) subsidy from the EU for the construction of a multi-purpose complex named Čapí hnízdo, situated south of Prague.
The ANO movement, the election winners, are not concealing their delight, as the Czech opposition parties regard the current European elections as a referendum on their satisfaction with Petr Fiala’s government.
In addition, 10% of the electorate endorsed the right-wing coalition “Oath and Motorists” and the communist-led coalition “Enough!” The Communist leader, Ekaterina Konecna, advocated for the cessation of arms supplies to Ukraine, the lifting of sanctions against Russia, and the resumption of Russian gas purchases. “Freedom and Direct Democracy” secured 6% of the vote, advocating for the cessation of arms supplies and promoting negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
The European Parliament elections have suggested a trend of diminishing the government’s current positions. The Senate elections scheduled to conclude in September 2024 will determine whether there is a demand for populism in Czech society or whether the steady increase in citizens’ sentiments will progress to a new level and become a trend.
After the elections, Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic, noted that we cannot ignore the rise in support for extremists in Europe; it is necessary to listen to these voices and reflect on why this is happening. At the same time, he believes that the fundamental value orientation of the EU regarding security and democracy will not change even after the elections.
If we consider the European Union as a whole, the results of the recent European Parliament elections have shown that the “right-wing” and conservatives have strengthened their positions. On the contrary, the “greens” weakened, losing 20 seats out of 72. Several centrist parties also experienced declines. In the next five years, the European People’s Party will remain the group with the largest number of European Parliament Members, and they will be able to appoint Ursula von der Leyen as the head of the European Commission. Against the trend of strengthening the “right” and weakening liberals, voters in Slovakia chose the opposition party “Progressive Slovakia.” In Sweden or Portugal, the socialists received the most votes, whereas in Denmark, the “greens,” social Democrats, and liberals primarily received the mandates.
By taking part in the European Parliament elections, the Czechs not only determine who will hold seats in the European governing body for the next five years, but they also have the power to shape the future format of European directives and the election of the new President of the European Commission, both of which will impact Czech legislation.
The parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic will take place in the fall of 2025 and will ultimately showcase the maturity of the Czech voters, who have borne the burden of Kremlin occupation, culminating in the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops in Czechoslovakia in August 1968, or Operation Danube, which put an end to the reforms of the Prague Spring and the hopes of the Czech and Slovak peoples for democratisation in their shared country, and the attempts to build “socialism with a human face.” The Czech Republic, inspired by Václav Havel and the ideals of the Velvet Revolution, peacefully parted ways with its sister Slovakia and will have to retake its maturity test. But that will be in a year, and right now it’s the Senate elections.
