As the Czech Republic prepares for parliamentary elections on October 3–4, opposition leader Andrej Babiš and his ANO movement have unveiled a wide-ranging programme that promises cheaper energy, lower taxes, stronger social protections, and, above all, a defence of Czech sovereignty against Brussels’ overreach.
Babiš, the former prime minister (2017-2021) and billionaire businessman, has made clear that his priorities are anchored in pragmatic economics and national interests.
Chief among these is his vow to resist the European Union’s Green Deal, which the party programme labels a “dead project” that threatens households and industries alike.
ANO is opposing new green taxes and the extension of EU emissions allowances to households and transport from 2027, arguing that such policies would raise costs for families while undermining competitiveness.
Instead, Babiš promises to secure affordable energy by increasing the state’s stake in the power utility ČEZ to 100%, continuing to operate coal plants until new nuclear and gas sources are ready, and accelerating investment in stable energy infrastructure.
Another cornerstone of ANO’s programme is a firm rejection of euro adoption. The Czech koruna, Babiš insists, must remain the national currency.
On social policy, ANO proposes to roll back the current government’s pension reforms, reinstating the retirement age cap at 65—reversing a plan to raise it to 67—and increasing pensions.
Taxes for families and businesses would be cut, with corporate tax reduced from 21% to 19% and VAT lowered for restaurants.
Young families, too, are promised support in the form of interest-free loans for first homes, while access to healthcare would be improved by reducing waiting times for treatment.
Babiš has also pledged a tougher stance on migration. ANO’s programme calls for a strict asylum law with zero tolerance for illegal migration, reflecting a broader demand across Central Europe for greater control of borders and immigration policy.
In foreign affairs, Babiš insists the Czech Republic will remain in the EU and NATO, but on pragmatic, interest-based terms.
He has promised to focus diplomacy on the country’s economic interests, on better ties with neighbours, on a strong Visegrád Group, and to support peace efforts in Ukraine while resisting policies that prolong the conflict.
If Babiš returns to power, the sovereignist alliance in Central Europe would be considerably strengthened, with Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Robert Fico in Slovakia pursuing similar policies. A powerful bloc would be capable of challenging Brussels on energy, migration, and climate policy.
ANO, the movement that belongs to the sovereignist-Eurosceptic Patriots for Europe (PfE) group in the European Parliament, is well positioned to form a government.
It has a commanding lead in the polls, with 32% of voters supporting the party. It will, however, have to find coalition partners to gain a majority in parliament: the anti-immigration SPD is the most likely candidate, which is polling in third place at 12%.
Other anti-establishment forces that share a common resistance to Fiala’s Brussels-first approach include left-wing Stačilo! (7%) and the Motorists (6%).
The prime minister’s centre-right Europhile Spolu coalition is polling at 22%, and its main coalition partner, the centrist-liberal STAN is on 11%.
Unsurprisingly, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has branded Babiš’s potential allies as “extremists.”
This rhetoric, however, smacks of desperation, as Fiala realises he is on course to lose the election.
The governing Spolu and STAN are struggling with declining popularity amid austerity measures aimed at reining in a swelling budget deficit.
