The opposition party dominates in the first round of the Czech Senate election... Before the ruling coalition

Pro-Western opposition party, 4 out of 5 confirmed elected... Advances to the finals ahead of the ruling Yesterday Party

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = In the first round of the Czech Senate election held on the 9th (local time), the pro-Western opposition achieved a superior performance over the Affirmative Party (ANO) led by right-wing populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

According to the vote counting results announced on the 11th, a total of 26 candidates from the pro-Western opposition, including the mayor, the Independent Party (STAN), and the Citizens' Democratic Party (ODS), and 13 candidates from the ruling Affirmative Party each advanced to the runoff election scheduled for next week, the Associated Press and Euronews reported.

The number of elected candidates confirmed with more than 50% of the votes in the first round of voting is five, equaling the all-time record for 2024. Among them, four are opposition parties and there are no positive party candidates.

The Liberty and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) and the Driver's Party, which formed a coalition government with the Affirmative Party, failed to produce a finalist.

Of the 81 seats in the Senate, 27 are at stake in this election. The candidates who ranked first and second in the first round of voting will compete again for 22 seats, excluding the five confirmed seats.

Of the 54 seats not up for election in this election, the main opposition party holds 37 seats. The four seats confirmed this time alone constitute a majority in the Senate.

In the Czech Republic, legislation is led by the House of Representatives, but the Senate also plays an important check role, such as agreeing to constitutional amendments and appointing judges to the Constitutional Court.

The election is seen as Prime Minister Babisi's first test since he returned to power.

Prime Minister Babisi, a billionaire businessman, founded the Positive Party in 2011 with the aim of eradicating corruption in the political elite and served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021. After the general election last year, he formed a coalition government with other far-right and populist parties and returned to power.

In local elections held separately, independent candidates performed well across the country.