Voters in the Czech Republic cast ballots in local and senate elections

Voters in the Czech Republic begin casting ballots on Friday to elect local representatives and fill one-third of the seats in the Senate, DW reported. The elections are viewed as a key test of popularity for Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his government. [1]

According to DW, Babis took office last December after forming a coalition government with two small political groups. His party, ANO, secured a major victory in parliamentary elections last year by appealing to voters experiencing economic frustration. DW added that Babis capitalized on public sentiment that the previous center-right government spent too much money supporting Ukraine. [1]

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordering Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. Its capital and largest city is Prague. The nation joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004, though it retains the Czech koruna as its official currency. [3][5]

The voting comes after Babis encountered political challenges shortly after forming his government, as opposition figures launched formal challenges against him, DW reported. [1]