- Title: Polls close in Czech election, ruling ANO party projected to win
- Date: 9th October 2021
- Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (OCTOBER 9, 2021) (REUTERS) LAST-MINUTE VOTERS STANDING NEAR ENTRANCE TO VOTING ROOM AT POLLING STATION LAST-MINUTE VOTERS REGISTERING TO VOTE, CASTING BALLOTS LAST-MINUTE VOTERS REGISTERING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CASTING BALLOT LAST-MINUTE VOTERS REGISTERING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CASTING BALLOT WOMAN READING INFORMATION POSTERS VARIOUS OF MEMBER OF ELECTION COMMITTEE CLOSING AND LOCKING DOOR OF POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 23rd October 2021 14:42
- Keywords: Czech Republic PM Andrej Babis Prague ballot elections general election in Czech Republic people casting votes polls closing voting
- Location: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- City: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- Country: Czech Republic
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001EYFSG93
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Czechs wrapped up voting in a tight parliamentary election on Saturday (October 9) with partial results showing Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ party in the lead.
The Czech ruling populist ANO party took a lead in the election with 30.14% of the vote, results from 20% of the voting districts showed.
The partial results showed the centre-right opposition Together party at 23.78% and the liberal Pirates/Mayors coalition in third place with 13.42%.
Video footage showed last-minute voters casting ballots in Prague ahead of the polls closing at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT).
The billionaire Prime Minister Babis vowed in his campaign to continue raising public sector wages and pensions, hoping to shore up the basis of his popular support.
He also stepped up his anti-migrant rhetoric and pledged to prevent ceding powers to the European Union.
But he faced a strong challenge from the centre-right Together coalition and the progressive Pirates/Mayors bloc that refuse to work with Babis over what they say are his unacceptable conflicts of interest related to the business empire he created before entering politics.
ANO was unlikely to secure a majority but looked certain to win more votes than any single party, giving the premier the first shot at forming the next government.
His party may struggle to find partners, with two parties that backed the outgoing minority government at risk of losing their lower house seats.
That could force ANO to seek an alliance with the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party.
(Production: Jiri Skacel, Karolina Bohacova) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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