Babiš Wins Czech Election, Promises End to Ukraine Aid

ANO won the Czech parliamentary election with about 34.7–34.85% of the vote, giving it roughly 80–81 seats in a result that marked billionaire Andrej Babiš’s political comeback after his 2021 defeat. Babiš said he will seek a one‑party minority government while opening talks with smaller parties including the Motorists and the far‑right SPD, and must be formally appointed by President Petr Pavel before forming a government. His campaign pledged faster growth, higher wages and pensions and tax cuts, and he vowed to end Czech military aid for Ukraine. Babiš has criticized NATO spending and the planned F‑35 purchase and said he would review the Czech‑led artillery procurement for Ukraine. Brussels and Kyiv warned his victory could complicate EU and NATO support for Ukraine, though some EU officials judge he may be less disruptive than Hungary or Slovakia’s leaders; Babiš still faces legal and conflict‑of‑interest challenges.