In a significant political realignment for Central Europe, billionaire populist Andrej Babiš has returned to power in the Czech Republic. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Babiš was formally sworn in as Prime Minister, marking the beginning of his second tenure leading the country and signalling a potential pivot away from the pro-Western policies of his predecessors.
The swearing-in ceremony at Prague Castle followed a decisive victory for Babiš’s Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) party in the parliamentary elections held in October 2025. The election results served as a clear rejection of the previous centre-right coalition led by Petr Fiala, paving the way for Babiš’s comeback after a four-year period in opposition.
A New Right-Wing Coalition
While ANO secured the most votes, it required coalition partners to achieve a parliamentary majority. Babiš has formed a governing alliance that observers say will drag the country’s political centre of gravity further to the right.
The new government includes the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, known for its strident anti-immigration and Eurosceptic stance. Also joining the coalition is a new parliamentary entrant, “Motorists for Themselves,” a party campaigning primarily on defending motorist rights and opposing aggressive environmental regulations, specifically the European Union’s Green Deal.
Geopolitical Reorientation Anticipated
The composition of Babiš’s new cabinet has drawn immediate attention from Brussels and allied capitals. During his previous term (2017–2021) and throughout the recent campaign, Babiš adopted a pragmatic, transactional approach to politics that often clashed with the EU mainstream.
Analysts predict that under this new administration, Prague will drift closer to the positions held by Viktor Orbán in neighbouring Hungary and Robert Fico in Slovakia. This shift is expected to manifest in two key areas:
- The War in Ukraine: The previous Czech government was one of Kyiv’s staunchest military backers. The new Babiš administration is widely expected to cool this support, favouring calls for immediate peace negotiations over continued military aid.
- Relations with Brussels: The coalition partners are united in their scepticism of federalised EU power. The new government is expected to vigorously oppose EU migration quotas and seek to dilute or dismantle key aspects of the EU’s climate agenda.
Rivals at the Castle
The appointment carried a noticeable undertone of political tension. Babiš was sworn in by President Petr Pavel, a former high-ranking NATO general. The two men were fierce rivals in the 2023 presidential election, which Pavel won decisively.
Despite their ideological differences, President Pavel proceeded with the constitutional appointment on Tuesday. This followed Babiš’s meeting specific preconditions regarding the management of his massive agricultural and media conglomerate, Agrofert, to satisfy conflict-of-interest concerns that dogged his previous premiership.
As Andrej Babiš takes the reins of power once more, the Czech Republic enters 2026 facing a new political reality that threatens to test European unity and reshape the dynamics of the Visegrád Four regional group.
Key Facts: Czech Republic
- Capital: Prague
- Official language: Czech
- President: Petr Pavel
- Prime Minister: Andrej Babiš
