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Czech election: Billionaire Babis secures big early lead Czech election: Billionaire Babis wins by large margin
(about 1 hour later)
A populist billionaire candidate has taken the lead in partial results from the Czech Republic's general election. Populist billionaire candidate Andrej Babis and his party have won the Czech Republic's general election.
Andrej Babis's centrist movement ANO had more than 30% of votes with results in from three-quarters of polling stations. Mr Babis, 63, is the country's second-richest man and campaigned on an anti-establishment and Eurosceptic platform.
That puts the party far ahead of its closest rival, the far-right Freedom and Free Democracy party (SPD), on 11.2%. Results from more than 98% of polling stations gave his centrist movement ANO (Yes) almost 30% of the vote - nearly three times its closest rival.
Mr Babis's ANO (Yes) party campaigned on an anti-establishment and Eurosceptic platform. The centre-right Civic Democrats and the far-right SPD came second and third with a little over 10% each.
Although it is not expected to secure an outright majority, it is projected to win about 30% of the vote - more than twice that of any of its opponents. Turnout was a little over 60%.
Far-right and far-left parties are also predicted to make gains. Mr Babis is now the main contender to become prime minister after coalition negotiations.
Its current coalition partner, the ruling centre-left Social Democrats (CSSD), has seen its projected share tumble since counting began. The 63-year-old is estimated to be worth $4bn (£3bn), making him the country's second richest man - but he has also faced numerous scandals including a fraud indictment and accusations he was a communist-era police agent.
The projected results make Mr Babis the main contender to become prime minister after coalition negotiations. It is not yet clear what the composition of the next government will be.
The 63 year old is estimated to be worth $4bn (£3bn), making him the country's second richest man - but he has also faced numerous scandals including a fraud indictment and accusations he was a communist-era police agent. Its current coalition partner, the ruling centre-left Social Democrats (CSSD), saw its share of the vote tumble to become the sixth-largest party.
Social Democrat Bohuslav Sobotka headed a coalition formed with Mr Babis's party after a 2013 snap election. Far-right and far-left groups made gains, however. With more than 98% of polling stations reporting, the largest parties now include:
The BBC's correspondent in Prague, Rob Cameron, said the SPD's strong performance was particularly noteworthy, as the far-right party wants to ban Islam in the Czech Republic.
Liberal, pro-European parties were left massively depleted, he said.
The country's outgoing leader, Social Democrat Bohuslav Sobotka, headed a coalition formed with Mr Babis's party after a 2013 snap election.
But in May, Mr Sobotka submitted his government's resignation because of a disagreement with Andrej Babis, who was serving as finance minister at the time.But in May, Mr Sobotka submitted his government's resignation because of a disagreement with Andrej Babis, who was serving as finance minister at the time.
He was unhappy about alleged unexplained business dealings involving Mr Babis.He was unhappy about alleged unexplained business dealings involving Mr Babis.