Czech Republic Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

CZECH REPUBLIC · POLITICS

Who Holds Power

As of 25 October 2026, Czechia is governed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s coalition of ANO, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), and Motorists for Themselves. President Petr Pavel is head of state, while executive power is exercised by the government, which is accountable to the Chamber of Deputies.

This guide is part of The Rio Times series on European politics. See also our guides to Spain and Germany’s AfD debate.

Babiš leads the cabinet after Pavel appointed him on 9 December 2025, and the government won a parliamentary confidence vote on 13 January 2026 with 108 votes. The coalition holds 108 of the 200 Chamber seats, above the 101-seat majority threshold.

Pavel appoints the prime minister, appoints ministers on the prime minister’s proposal, represents the state internationally, and can veto ordinary legislation. The Chamber of Deputies can override a presidential veto.

Tomio Okamura, leader of SPD and speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, has been a central parliamentary actor. He proposed the overnight scheduling of the public-media funding vote.

The Public-Media Fight

The immediate political confrontation concerns a government bill to abolish television and radio licence fees and replace them with direct financing from the state budget. The Chamber of Deputies advanced the bill to its second reading at 4:36 a.m. Central European Summer Time on Saturday, 24 October 2026 (10:36 p.m. ET on Friday), after an overnight debate.

The vote was only the bill’s first parliamentary stage, not final enactment. The proposal must still pass further readings and then proceed through the Senate and presidential stages.

The bill would provide Czech Television with CZK 5.74 billion (about US$265 million) next year, about CZK 1 billion (US$46 million) less than its expected licence-fee income. Czech Radio would receive CZK 2.065 billion (about US$95 million), about CZK 400 million (US$18 million) less.

Critics estimate that the two broadcasters would lose roughly CZK 1.4 billion (about US$65 million) annually compared with the existing system. The proposal triggered demonstrations in Brno and Prague.

About 4,000 people gathered in Brno’s náměstí Svobody on Saturday, 24 October, according to a spokesperson for the Brno-střed district. They were protesting against the bill advancing in the Chamber of Deputies.

The civic initiative Milion chvilek pro demokracii called a demonstration on Old Town Square in Prague for the afternoon of Sunday, 25 October. Employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio announced an all-day strike for Tuesday, 3 November 2026.

Prime Minister Babiš said the coalition was fulfilling its promises and accused the opposition of lying about the reform. Culture Minister Oto Klempíř presented the bills to parliament.

Critics, including Milion chvilek and public-media employees, argue that dependence on annual state-budget decisions could expose Czech Television and Czech Radio to political pressure. The European Federation of Journalists and European Broadcasting Union urged lawmakers to allow proper scrutiny and public discussion.

The key unresolved issue is therefore not whether the bill has been finally enacted, which it has not. It is whether the proposed funding mechanism would weaken editorial independence.

Senate and Institutional Pressure

Senate elections for 27 of the 81 seats were held on Friday and Saturday, 9 and 10 October, with runoffs on 16 and 17 October. Prime Minister Babiš’s ANO won none of the 27 contested seats.

ANO had advanced 13 candidates to the runoffs, but none of them won. The opposition keeps its majority in the Senate, according to Expats.cz.

The Senate matters because it takes part in constitutional legislation and approves Constitutional Court judges. It can also delay or amend ordinary legislation.

The result is politically significant but does not remove Babiš’s government. The cabinet’s survival depends primarily on its majority in the 200-member Chamber of Deputies.

The government survived a no-confidence motion on 1 October 2026 by 94 votes to 83, the second such test. The opposition cited the 2027 budget deficit, conflict-of-interest concerns and the independence of institutions.

Another major dispute concerns the civil service. The Chamber of Deputies overrode President Pavel’s veto of a reform making it easier to dismiss public employees on 14 October.

The override passed by 104 votes to 66, with three abstentions. The reform is due to take effect in November 2026.

Pavel had vetoed the measure, and the opposition has announced a complaint to the Constitutional Court. Vít Rakušan, chairman of the STAN party and a former interior minister, warned that the reform would put civil servants under political control.

Government supporters say the changes would make public administration more flexible and efficient. The Chamber also overrode Pavel’s veto of a law on the heads of missions to international organisations.

What It Means for US Readers

Czechia is a NATO and European Union member in Central Europe, so its stability affects alliance cohesion and EU decision-making. The European Broadcasting Union and the European Federation of Journalists have criticised how the media bill is being handled.

For American businesses and investors, the government’s fiscal policy and civil-service reform will shape how predictable the operating environment is. The opposition has criticised the 2027 budget deficit and conflict-of-interest concerns around the prime minister.

US travelers to Prague or Brno may encounter demonstrations around Old Town Square or Parliament, and the planned 3 November public-media strike could affect programming. Visitors should monitor local announcements.

What Is Not Known

Final passage of the public-media bill remains unresolved. It has only cleared its first stage, and its wording, funding guarantees, Senate treatment, and presidential response are not yet known.

The actual size of future broadcaster budgets is uncertain. The proposed figures are known, but whether they survive committee review and later votes is not.

The impact on editorial independence is contested. The government says direct state funding is a normal European arrangement, while opponents say annual budget dependence creates political leverage.

The Senate has an opposition majority, but whether it will delay or amend the public-media bill is not known. The bill must still pass further readings in the Chamber first.

Whether the public-media bill will face a court challenge is not yet known. No ruling is reported in the material reviewed.

The practical effects of the November civil-service reform are unknown. The scale of dismissals, administrative changes, and any subsequent constitutional challenge remain unclear.

The precise form of the 3 November public-media strike has not been specified. Employees announced the strike, but had not yet detailed exactly how programming would change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the prime minister of the Czech Republic in 2026?

Andrej Babiš of the ANO movement is prime minister and leads the cabinet. He was appointed by President Petr Pavel on 9 December 2025, and his government won a confidence vote on 13 January 2026.

What is the public-media funding dispute about?

The government wants to abolish television and radio licence fees and replace them with direct state-budget financing. Critics say it would cut roughly CZK 1.4 billion (US$65 million) a year and could expose broadcasters to political pressure.

When is the next major political test for the government?

The public-media bill must still pass further readings in the Chamber of Deputies, then go to the Senate and the president. Public-media employees have also announced an all-day strike for Tuesday, 3 November 2026.

Sources: Expats.cz: Thousands rally in Brno for public media; Ground News: Czech opposition outpaced the ruling party in first round of Senate election.