PRAGUE — Czech voters began casting ballots on Friday to elect 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament, for four-year terms.

About 8 million eligible voters will choose from 26 parties and groupings, four more than in the 2021 election.

According to Radio Prague International, seven parties have a “realistic chance” of entering parliament, with 4,463 candidates competing — roughly 22 for each seat.

Observers say the vote could reshape Central Europe’s political balance, with polls favoring the right-wing populist ANO party, led by billionaire Andrej Babis, 71.

While ANO would need more than 40% of seats to govern outright — an unlikely scenario — Babis has pledged to keep the Czech Republic out of the euro area if elected.

He also ruled out a coalition with the Civic Democrats (ODS), the party of incumbent Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Polling stations opened at 2 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) Friday and will remain open until 10 p.m. (2000 GMT).

Voting continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. Counting will begin immediately after polls close, with early results expected by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) Saturday.

More than 24,000 Czech nationals registered to vote abroad, nearly half by mail.

In the 2021 election, Babis’ ANO party won 72 seats, just ahead of the Spolu coalition, led by Fiala’s ODS, with 71. — Agencies