Closed-Door Policy Discussion: Czech Foreign Policy After the 2025 Elections

On Thursday 18 September, the IDM hosted a close-door foreign policy discussion in cooperation with the Association for International Affairs (AMO), a think tank based in Prague. High-level experts attended the discussion, including diplomats, journalists and think tankers. The topic of the discussion was the Czech Republic’s foreign policy after the upcoming elections, which will take place on 3-4 October 2025. AMO’s Executive Director Vit Dostal and Research Director Pavlína Janebova presented the policy brief “Lines of (Re)Alignment: Czech Foreign Policy After the 2025 Elections”, which analysed four possible government compositions within a matrix of active vs. reactive foreign policy and continuity vs. change.

The policy brief reveals how various factors will determine the orientation of Czech foreign policy, such as the coalition formed, the appointment of the Prime Minister and the appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. None of the polls so far suggest that the coalition currently in power – the Czech centre-right political alliance Spolu (“Together”) composed of the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL, and TOP 09 – could win a majority in Parliament again. Meanwhile, the ANO party is likely to win the parliamentary elections and take the lead, though without securing an absolute majority. Political change must therefore be anticipated.

While Czechia’s fundamental memberships in the EU and NATO are unlikely to be questioned, other partnerships with neighbouring countries could be threatened. Czech foreign policy could undergo the biggest change if ANO decides to form a coalition with far-right or far-left parties (like SPD or Stačilo!), that are strongly Eurosceptic, anti-green and not very supportive of aid for Ukraine. Nonetheless, the president will remain a defining figure in foreign policy.

We woul like to thank Pavlina, Vit and AMO for the good cooperation and are grateful to everyone who attended for the lively exchange.

You can find the policy paper by Pavlína Janebova and Vit Dostal here.