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The populist billionaire has held discussions with Czech President Petr Pavel and will conduct talks with other political leaders as he commences the challenging process of forming a stable government following his ANO party triumphed at the polls while missing an decisive mandate.

Election Results

Final tallies indicated ANO captured 34.5% of ballots cast from the weekend polling, translating to a provisional 80 seats in the 200-seat legislature. The center-right alliance led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala came in second with 23.4%.

"I've committed to show the president an approach that will adhere to national and EU legislation," Babiš announced ahead of Sunday's discussions commenced.

Governing Hurdles

While celebrating the "historic result" as "the pinnacle" of his governmental journey, Babiš confronts major challenges both to become prime minister and to obtain and sustain support for the minority administration he has proposed.

Several mainstream factions have already ruled out creating a partnership with ANO, pushing the leader to pursue support from smaller conservative movements. "We're initiating talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and seek a independent cabinet under ANO," he declared.

Governing Agenda

Babiš, ranked as the republic's seventh most affluent person with an approximate fortune of $3.9 billion, campaigned on pledges of quickened expansion, boosted income and senior payments and decreased levies. He also committed to challenge the EU's immigration agreement and environmental initiative, and to terminate the military aid project, instead supporting Kyiv only through EU channels.

Prospective Supporters

The party maintains several overlapping positions with the conservative SPD, which similarly rejects EU climate and immigration policies – as does the minor conservative Motorists faction.

The more extreme Moscow-friendly, anti-alliance, anti-EU SPD also promoted a "departure" promise to withdraw Czechia from the bloc, which Babiš has entirely refused. He has frequently asserted his party is "pro-European, and pro-Nato".

Discussion Scenarios

Both the Motorists and the SPD have indicated willingness to discussions with ANO, but it remains uncertain how far any group will opt to sustain a minority ANO government instead of pursuing a binding coalition accord – or how long such approval would continue.

Election experts noted that the SPD's ballot percentage was significantly lower than the predicted 13% ahead of polling, meaning its bargaining power in negotiations concerning parliamentary backing agreement would not be as influential as initially anticipated.

Presidential Prerogatives

Even if Babiš is finally successful to present Pavel – who defeated the billionaire in last year's presidential race – with a multi-party agreement representing a parliamentary majority in parliament, his challenges could continue.

The president declared ahead of polling that he would not approve any government officials who advocated leaving from the EU or from Nato. He has also indicated he was consulting with lawyers regarding a possible conflict of interest concerning Babiš himself.

International Reactions

Continental nationalist figures including Viktor Orbán, who posted on social media that "Facts have triumphed!", and France's Marine Le Pen, who said "nationalist groups" were being "called to power throughout the continent", have congratulated Babiš.

Nevertheless, while ANO is part of the far-right Patriots for Europe bloc and Babiš has characterized himself as an admirer of Orbán, the bloc's primary troublemaker, it is uncertain to what extent he will align himself with the Eurosceptic movement.

Expert Opinions

Policy observers contend Babiš's politics are more pragmatic than dogmatic and that he is doubtful to initiate a significant dispute with European authorities as long as the Czech Republic requires European financing and the leader's companies continue to gain from European membership.

Government structures are also likely to constrain the billionaire at home, with extreme changes expected to be impeded by the upper house, which can veto any proposed voting legislation or fundamental law amendments and must confirm judicial appointments named to the highest legal authority.