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Movement ANO 2011: From "Action of Dissatisfied Citizens" to Winner of National Elections 2017

Publication at Faculty of Social Sciences |
2018

Abstract

Impact of new political parties and populist rhetoric is visible across Europe; the Czech party politics is not exceptional in this respect. Initiative Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) was arisen in autumn 2011 by entrepreneur and later leader Andrej Babiš.

There was no intention to participate in politics, but later in 2012, it has been registered as a political movement. This anti-establishment and anti-party movement with populist appeals was placed second in national elections 2013 with 18,65 % and participated in a coalition government with Social-democratic and Christian-democratic parties.

In national elections, 2017 won with 29,64 % and was ahead of the game. This study aims to point out the main changes of the Czech party system after ANO's electoral breakthrough in 2013.

There is important to focus on programmatic, organisational and personal questions, and show in which aspects is ANO extraordinary in contrast to other established or new political parties or movements. Cardinal role of its leader Andrej Babiš and his scandals was unquestionable.

And what more - despite this ANO was able to reinforce its position and win 2017 elections. This qualitative case study wants to show how this movement varied over time.

There is obvious that strong populist and anti-establishment rhetoric can significantly strengthen a movement which was an essential part of the former coalition government.