Polling stations closed at 12:00 GMT on Friday, before reopening from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT on Saturday, with results anticipated on Saturday evening.
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It will almost certainly need to work out a coalition, even if Babis’ ANO (Yes) party wins the majority of the vote. According to analysts, the far-right opposition SPD movement, which has a majority of voters support, is the likely candidate.
About 11 million people have signed petitions calling for the halt of military aid to Ukraine in the EU and NATO countries.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala, 61, is the current centre-right coalition government, which has extended extensive humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. However, many voters accuse it of ignoring domestic issues.
“A change is required,” he said. Jaroslav Kolar, a 68-year-old geographer, told the AFP news agency that the Czech Republic must become more independent and not just a messenger boy for Brussels.
Doctor Anna Stefanova, 41, however, claimed she was concerned about “sway toward Russia.”
While he served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, Babis was critical of some EU initiatives. He has a good relationship with Robert Fico, the Slovakian prime minister, and Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, who have maintained strong ties with Moscow despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Babis has disputed any attempts to leave the EU or NATO, including those that call for referendums, in response to accusations made by the current administration that he would stall the nation’s democratic, pro-Western course.
ANO leads Fiala’s group of opinion polls with about 20%, with support over 30% suggested.
In line with American President Donald Trump, Babis has described himself as a “peacemonger” who calls for a truce in Ukraine and has promised a “Czechs first” approach. He also pledged “a better life” for all Czechs.
The far-right Patriots for Europe organization, which also includes France’s National Rally and other parties, was founded by Babis and cofounded in the European Parliament in 2024.
On X, Fiala stated that voters would choose whether to “continue on the path of freedom, high-quality democracy, security, and prosperity, or to go east.”
Although some observers believe there hasn’t been much change in voter sentiment since the election, there are still some concerns about Russian propaganda being spread online during the election campaign.
Analysts last week claimed that manipulated engagement and the distribution of pro-Russian propaganda by Czech TikTok accounts to millions of viewers “systematically supports anti-system parties.”
The pro-Western ruling party of Moldova’s leadership won a crucial parliamentary election last week, making a decisive decision to stay in Europe’s orbit or to pivot into Moscow’s.
Both Babis and Fiala’s reputations have been tarnished by scandals.
The justice ministry’s decision to accept $44 million in bitcoins from a convicted criminal is causing controversy in Fiala’s government.
According to Forbes magazine, Babis, who was born in Slovakia and is the seventh-wealthy Czech, will be tried for fraud involving EU subsidies worth more than $2 million.
Source: Aljazeera
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