PRAGUE - The populist ANO party of billionaire Andrej Babis faced tough talks on forming a government on Sunday after it won a weekend election but fell short of a majority, leaving it in need of partners who are demanding seats in the cabinet.

ANO is allied with Hungary's Viktor Orban and a number of far-right parties in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, and its win will strengthen the populist, anti-immigration camp in the European Union.

ANO won the Czech election on Saturday with 34.5% of the vote, complete results showed, ahead of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's Spolu (Together) centre-right coalition with 23.4%.

SHORT OF A MAJORITY

But ANO will have just 80 seats in the 200-seat lower house, meaning it will need partners to establish a viable cabinet and help push through Babis's agenda promising higher wages and lower taxes, with likely higher budget deficits.

Babis said on Saturday he wanted a one-party ANO government backed by the anti-NATO and anti-EU SPD, and the Motorists, a right-wing eurosceptic group.

But those two parties want to join the cabinet directly, their representatives said on Sunday.

"It is clear that with the Motorists and SPD we have 108 seats," Babis said after meeting President Petr Pavel on Sunday. "We have to clarify our positions, we just had introductory talks last night."

PRESIDENT PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE

Babis, who was previously prime minister in 2017-2021, declined to comment further on Sunday.

The president has the right to appoint prime ministers and ministers, and therefore plays an important role in post-election talks. He has hinted he may refuse any ministers who would undermine the country's EU and NATO stance.

After his win, Babis stressed he was rejecting accusations he may weaken the Czech Republic's position in the EU and NATO but confirmed he would reject the EU's carbon-reduction policies and its pact on im...