The motion of no confidence in the government of Andrej Babiš (ANO) was the opposition's second attempt to remove the cabinet since it was formed. The proposal to convene an extraordinary session of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic was submitted on 25 September 2026 by the opposition parties ODS, STAN, the Pirates, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09, and was signed by all 92 opposition deputies [1][2]. On the basis of the proposal, Speaker Tomio Okamura (SPD) convened the session for Tuesday 29 September at 14:00, with the debate expected to continue on Wednesday [1][3]. The session was called for a date ten days before the municipal and Senate elections [1].
Reasons for the motion
The opposition justified the attempt to topple the government by three groups of issues: the size of the deficit in the draft state budget for the following year, which according to the opposition was to be the second highest in the history of the Czech Republic; the unresolved conflict of interest of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš; and the government's conduct towards constitutional institutions, the courts, the non-profit sector and the media [1][2][3]. ODS chairman Martin Kupka said that Babiš's government was changing the character of the Czech Republic for the worse and that the motion was not an empty gesture but a step in defence of responsible management of public finances [1]. Pirates chairman Zdeněk Hřib described the cabinet as incompetent or directed from outside and said that the government held democratic institutions and independent courts in contempt [1]. The chairmen of TOP 09, Matěj Ondřej Havel, and of STAN, Vít Rakušan, criticised the government's approach to national security and the Russian threat and called its conduct a gamble with national security [1]. KDU-ČSL chairman Jan Grolich said that the budget was in direct conflict with the government's earlier promises; at the same time he expected the motion to fail, but said that every government deputy would get an opportunity to take a public stand on the government [1].
Balance of power in the Chamber
For the Chamber of Deputies to express no confidence in the government, at least 101 of the 200 deputies must vote for the motion [1][3]. The governing coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists held 108 seats [1][3]. Even if all 92 opposition deputies supported the motion, they would still need at least nine votes from the government camp [3]. Speaker Tomio Okamura described the opposition's approach as a pre-election gesture [3]. The cabinet was expected to survive the vote [2][3].
Previous no-confidence attempt
This was the second vote of no confidence in the government of Andrej Babiš since its formation. The first attempt took place in early February 2026 and was triggered by an escalation of the conflict between the Motorists movement and President Petr Pavel, who refused to appoint the Motorists' honorary chairman Filip Turek as Minister of the Environment [1][3]. The first day of the debate then lasted about twelve hours and the debate continued the following day; members of the government accused the opposition of delaying the cabinet's work, while opposition deputies criticised the government mainly over its handling of the conflict surrounding Petr Macinka and the president [3]. The government survived that vote [1][3].
Result of the vote
The Chamber voted on the motion on 1 October 2026 after three days of sittings; the debate lasted roughly 27.5 hours of net time [4][5]. In favour of expressing no confidence voted 83 opposition deputies present, against it 94 coalition deputies; nine opposition and 14 coalition deputies were excused [4][5]. At least 101 votes would have been needed to bring the government down, so the cabinet of ANO, SPD and the Motorists continues to govern with the confidence of the Chamber [4][5]. Of the 22 attempts so far to express no confidence in a government in the history of the independent Czech Republic, only one succeeded, in 2009 against the government of Mirek Topolánek [5].
Related articles: Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
Chronology
- — The Chamber of Deputies did not pass the opposition's motion of no confidence in the government of Andrej Babiš; 83 deputies voted in favour. ČTK / České noviny iROZHLAS
- — The opposition parties ODS, STAN, the Pirates, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 filed a proposal to convene a Chamber of Deputies session on a vote of no confidence in the government of Andrej Babiš, signed by all 92 opposition deputies; they cited the size of the draft budget deficit, the prime minister's unresolved conflict of interest and the government's conduct towards institutions. ČTK / České noviny ČT24
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Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 25 September 2026
- ČT24 — 25 September 2026
- FORUM 24 — 25 September 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 1 October 2026
- Echo24 — 1 October 2026