Final Word from Monday, December 22, 2025

ANO, SPD and the Motorists won a combined 49.06% of the vote in the elections in Oct., while the broader anti-Fiala opposition, including Stačilo! and Přísaha, got 54.43%. This latter figure probably gives a fairly accurate picture of how society was divided at the time. The new opposition (ODS, STAN, KDU-ČSL, etc.) still has an overwhelming majority in the Senate, but this could also theoretically be lost in the elections in 2026 and 2028. Counting on Andrej Babiš's bloc to make major mistakes is one possible strategy, but Senate Pres. Miloš Vystrčil of ODS doesn't want to wait. He tried to narrow the gap in society on Thur. by saying in his annual Advent address that Europe is suffocating us with its regulations and bureaucracy. "I of course hear and understand the concerns that Europe is lagging behind in its development. Behind America, behind China, behind Southeast Asia, and not only behind them. It's true." In his 2023 and 2024 Advent addresses, there wasn't even a hint of criticism of the EU, which doesn't say much for his analytical skills. But Vystrčil senses when his job is threatened and when to add a touch of Trump to his repertoire. [ Czech Republic parliamentary Pirates Christmas National Security Strategy Donald ]