Right-wing ANO secures spot as top Czech party in European polls

By Ebad Ahmed

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AA) - The populist ANO movement in the Czech Republic received the highest number of votes in the preliminary results of last week's European elections, which showed right-wing parties performing well across the bloc.

With 26.14% of the vote, the opposition right-wing party claimed a total of seven seats in the European Parliament, one more than it had in the last elections in 2019, the country's public broadcaster confirmed.

On the other hand, the ruling Spolu (Together) coalition, which included the Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Top 09 parties, came in close in second place with 22.2% and six members of the European Parliament.

The Prisaha and Motorists, a far-right alliance accused of neo-Nazi tendencies, got two seats with 10% of votes, about the same as the left-wing coalition Stacilo! (Enough!).

The Mayors and Independents party, which is also part of the Czech Republic's governing coalition, received less than 9% of the vote, losing one of the three European Parliament seats it got five years ago.

Two other far-right parties, Freedom and Direct Democracy and the Tricolor coalition, elected a member of the European Parliament each.

The ruling coalition secured landslide votes from the capital Prague and the southeastern city of Brno, whereas swathes of eastern Moravia, northern Usti nad Labem, and western Karlovy Vary voted for ANO.

As many as 21 lawmakers will represent Czechia in the 720-seat European Parliament.

In an initial reaction, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the results were "decent."

"We are neither excited nor disappointed. Six seats was the minimum threshold for success in these elections," he added.

European voters went to the polls on June 6-9 in 27 members of the EU, with the elections held over two days in the Czech Republic on Friday and Saturday.