Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the recent election in Czechia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56961/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Parliamentary elections were held in Czechia over two days on 3 and 4 October 2025, with political parties contesting all 200 seats in the lower house. At 68.95%, voter turnout was the highest since elections in 1998.

The ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens/Yes) party, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, emerged as the leading party with 34.51% of the vote, winning 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The SPOLU (Together) alliance, consisting of three of the outgoing governing parties, came in second place with 23.36%, followed by governing coalition party STAN (Mayors and Independents) on 11.23%. Three smaller parties exceeded the parliamentary threshold of 5% and will also have representation in the new Czech parliament.

Negotiations on forming a new government are underway. Ireland has excellent bilateral relations with Czechia, a valued EU partner, and I look forward to working with the new administration in Prague.