Czechs vote as frontrunner Babis promises more spending, less Ukraine aid

Leader of ANO party, Andrej Babis, arrives for a televised debate, ahead of the country's parliamentary election that will start on October 3, in Prague, Czech Republic, October 1, 2025. REUTERS/David W Cerny

PRAGUE/OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (Reuters) -Czechs began voting on Friday in an election likely to oust their centre-right government, with polls favouring populist billionaire Andrej Babis to return to power on pledges to raise wages and lift growth while reducing aid for Ukraine.

The change would boost Europe's populist anti-immigration camp and could complicate consensus on climate policies.