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Andrej Babiš has conferred with Czech President Petr Pavel and is set to consult with other political leaders as he undertakes the challenging process of building a durable administration after his ANO party triumphed at the polls while missing an outright majority.

Poll Outcomes

Final tallies revealed ANO captured 34.5% of electoral support from the weekend polling, representing a tentative 80 seats in the bicameral assembly. The center-right alliance headed by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala placed second with 23.4%.

"I've vowed to show the president a method that will comply with national and EU legislation," Babiš announced prior to Sunday's discussions got under way.

Political Challenges

Despite praising the "landmark outcome" as "the zenith" of his governmental journey, Babiš confronts major challenges both to take the leadership role and to obtain and sustain support for the one-party cabinet he has suggested.

Multiple political groups have already ruled out creating a partnership with ANO, compelling Babiš to pursue support from minor right-leaning parties. "We're initiating talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and seek a single-party government under ANO," he affirmed.

Political Platform

The billionaire, positioned as the nation's seventh wealthiest individual with an calculated wealth of $3.9 billion, ran on vows for faster growth, increased salaries and retirement benefits and reduced taxation. He also promised to fight the EU's migration pact and green deal, and to discontinue the military aid project, instead assisting the Ukrainian government only through EU channels.

Potential Allies

Babiš's movement holds some common ground with the nationalist SPD, which similarly rejects EU environmental and border regulations – as does the smaller rightwing Motorists party.

The more radical Moscow-friendly, anti-Nato, anti-bloc SPD also ran on a "Czech exit" pledge to leave Czechia from the organization, which Babiš has categorically rejected. He has frequently asserted his party is "pro-European, and supportive of the defense pact".

Negotiation Dynamics

The Motorists party and the SPD have shown receptiveness to talks with Babiš, but it remains uncertain how far either party will opt to sustain a Babiš-led minority cabinet rather than seek a formal alliance agreement – or what duration such backing could last.

Government observers noted that the SPD's vote share was significantly lower than the predicted 13% before the election, meaning its bargaining power in negotiations concerning parliamentary backing agreement would not be as powerful as earlier thought.

Legal Framework

Even assuming Babiš is finally successful to demonstrate to the head of state – who overcame the businessman in 2023 presidential elections – with a cross-faction arrangement representing a legislative control in parliament, his challenges could continue.

The head of state announced before the election that he would not appoint any ministers who advocated leaving from the EU or from Nato. He has also indicated he was consulting with lawyers regarding a possible conflict of interest concerning Babiš himself.

European Context

Continental nationalist figures including Budapest's leader, who wrote online that "Facts have triumphed!", and Paris's conservative, who said "patriotic parties" were being "called to power all over Europe", have celebrated the outcome.

However, although ANO is part of the conservative EU legislature faction and Babiš has characterized himself as an supporter of the Hungarian leader, the EU's disruptor-in-chief, it is uncertain to what extent he will join forces with the Eurosceptic movement.

Expert Opinions

Government experts contend Babiš's approach is more practical than dogmatic and that he is doubtful to initiate a serious fight with Brussels as long as the the nation requires European financing and the politician's enterprises continue to profit from the union.

Czech institutions are also probable to restrict the leader domestically, with drastic alterations likely to be hindered by the upper house, which can reject any suggested electoral law or basic statute modifications and must validate court nominations named to the supreme judicial body.