Czech Senate Runoffs Begin for 22 Seats as ANO Faces Limited Gains

The second round of the 2026 Czech Senate election opened on 16 October in 22 districts where no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round held on 9 and 10 October. Polling stations are open from 14:00 to 22:00 on Friday and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Saturday. Approximately 2.25 million voters are eligible in the runoff districts.

Five senators were elected in the first round. They include Jan Grolich of KDU-ČSL in Vyškov, Jan Grulich of TOP 09 in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Jan Sobotka of STAN in Trutnov, Tomáš Fiala of Naše Česko in Strakonice, and Zbyněk Linhart of STAN in Děčín. The remaining 22 seats will be decided by simple majority between the top two candidates from each district.

ANO, the party of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, advanced candidates to 13 of the 22 runoffs but won none of the five seats decided in the first round. ODS advanced nine candidates. STAN and its allies are favored in several districts according to early projections. In Prague 1, Jiří Padevět of STAN finished the first round with 49.64 percent and faces Jan Čižinský of Praha sobě. In Brno-město, incumbent Zdeněk Papoušek of ODS faces Karel Zitterbart of STAN. In Ostrava-město, incumbent Ondřej Šimetka of ODS faces Lucie Baránková Vilamová of ANO.

The Senate has 81 members elected for six-year terms, with one-third of seats contested every two years. The two-round system requires a candidate to exceed 50 percent in the first round or to win a head-to-head contest in the second. Turnout in second rounds is typically lower than in the first. Voters receive ballot papers at the polling station and must present identification.

Projections from STEM and other outlets suggest ODS and STAN are positioned to retain or expand their clubs, while ANO is unlikely to make large gains even if it wins several of its 13 contests. The current ANO club holds 12 seats. A modest increase would still leave it well short of the larger ODS and STAN groups. The final composition will be known after counting concludes on 17 October and the State Electoral Commission certifies the results.

The runoffs occur one week after the first round and the concurrent municipal elections. No major procedural disputes have been reported. The outcome will determine the balance of the upper house for the next two years and will affect the Senate’s ability to delay or amend legislation passed by the Chamber of Deputies.

Counting begins immediately after polls close at 14:00 local time on 17 October. The State Electoral Commission is expected to declare the overall result in the days that follow. For the 22 districts still in play, the second-round vote is the final step in a process that began with candidate nominations and signature requirements for independents earlier in the year.