During the review period, three pivotal elections occurred in Czechia, marked by heightened polarization and mobilization. These electoral contests culminated in the ousting of the incumbent populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the election of a fresh presidential figure, and a resounding endorsement of a pro-Western direction.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, inflation and the war in Ukraine were overlapping and interconnected crises that have marred Czechia’s economy. Moreover, the unprecedented wave of refugees from Ukraine further strained municipal budgets that were already undermined by the 2020 tax cuts.
Due to the multiple crises, the country’s safety net was tested and its weaknesses regarding vulnerable populations were thrown into relief. While economic, housing and food insecurity grew, civil society was crucial in filling these gaps. Overcoming polarization and addressing key socioeconomic inequalities are the main challenges for the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
