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The Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) won the October 25-26 general elections as expected, but with only 20.45 per cent of the vote, its worst score in 20 years.
The new populist ANO movement, led by Slovak-born Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš, came second with 18.65 per cent, while the communist party took 14.91 per cent. The conservative Civic Democratic Party, which was in power until June this year, obtained only 7.72 per cent.
With a record seven political parties about to take seats in parliament, Respekt argues that the Czech Republic has become “a European laboratory for political agitation,” where every 20 years voters allow themselves to carried off by a revolutionary wave that overturns the establishment. In this context, remarks the weekly, the country’s new political strongman, Andrej Babiš —
… is reminiscent of the 1989 revolutionaries, who were wrinkly, inelegantly mannered, and awkward speakers, but gave the impression that they were sincere. They knew nothing about politics apart from the fact that they wanted to radically change it.
