The idea of founding a new political party came after leader and founder Andrej Babiš started talking about systemic corruption. ANO 2011 started as association in November 2011, and on 11 May 2012 ANO became an official political party in the Czech Republic.[4]
On 29 January 2014, the Cabinet of Social Democrat Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka was sworn in,[6] with ANO and the Christian democrats of the KDU–ČSL participating as junior coalition partners to the ČSSD.[7]
In the 2014 senate and municipal elections held on 10–11 October 2014, ANO won 4 seats in the Senate. ANO was also the largest party in 8 of the 10 biggest cities in the Czech Republic including its capital, Prague.[citation needed] It took mayoral offices in three largest cities in the Czech republic (Prague, Brno and Ostrava). Adriana Krnáčová was the first female mayor of Prague.[12] This success was later undermined when a large number of municipal coalitions broke up because of the party's disunity.[13]
In the run-up of the 2016 regional elections, Babiš started a project, the Babiš's Cafe: a television program consisting of interviews by moderator Pavla Charvátová to the leader, who also answered questions that were sent by viewers.[14] Also, two parties split from ANO – Change for People and PRO 2016 (FOR 2016). The latter was joined by numerous local councilors and mayors from ANO. The new parties explained the split by citing a lack of democracy and discussion in ANO.[15][16] Babiš said that members of both parties left ANO because they were not in the party's slates for the regional elections but admitted that some members or organizations of ANO may have wanted to privatize their position in the party. Radka Paulová, leader of PRO 2016, defended herself that if she had really wanted a better position on the party's slate, she would have done better to have stayed in ANO. Another member of PRO 2016 admitted that conflict about Candidature for Regional Councils also played a role. She said that the main criterion for candidates to regional councils was not professionalism but loyalty.[17][18] ANO also lost one MP in July 2016 when Kristýna Zelienková left the party.[19]
However, ANO won the 2016 regional elections and the first round of the 2016 senate election. The party came first in nine regions and second in the remaining four regions; its victory in South Bohemia was especially surprising.[20] ANO ended up with 5 governors,[21] one of whom, the Karlovy Vary Governor Jana Vildumetzová, became Chairman of Regional Association.[22] The second round of the senate election was a disappointment to the party, as 3 candidates were elected.[23]
On 11 October 2017, MEP Pavel Telička announced his departure from the party.[24] Petr Ježek left ANO on 23 January 2018.[25]
ANO participated in 2021 legislative election as a front-runner but finished second to Spolu. ANO still received highest number of seats.[29] The party was delegated to opposition as Spolu formed coalition with Pirates and Mayors.
ANO generally opposes economic liberalism, differently from its main rival, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).[61] In some spheres, such as tax policy, Babiš reintroduced centre-left elements to the movement's politics, including the abolition of partial tax exemption for self-employed persons and restoration of the partial tax exemption for employed pensioners. He also introduced a proposal to increase school teacher wages by 2.5%, as opposed to his ministry's original proposal for a 1% increase.[62] In the area of healthcare, Babiš has criticized public health insurance companies for their enormous spending.[63] ANO adopted Eurosceptic stances prior to the 2017 legislative election such as opposition to the Euro, deeper European integration and immigration quotas.[64] The party took a more pro-EU stance after the campaign.[65][66] Daniel Kaiser of Echo24 called the party's stance towards the EU "Euro-opportunism".[67] Babiš stated that ANO opposes the Czech Republic's adoption of the Euro, further European integration and "Brussels bureaucracy".[68] Babiš stated later that he was open to adopting the euro once the Czech Republic had a balanced budget. He also pleaded for closer ties with Germany and said the Czech Republic was already ready to sign the Fiscal Compact treaty at the time of the interview.[69]
ANO has a highly centralised organisational structure. The strongest position is that of the Chairman who acts independently when representing the party. The highest body of ANO is its National Assembly that meets at least once in every two years. Other national offices include membership of the Party Committee and the Bureau. The Bureau is led by the Chairman. Regional assemblies can elect their own Chairmen; however, they must be approved by the Bureau before they can take office. The Bureau also approves all candidates for elections.[75][76] Because of these reasons and considering Babiš's businesses, it can be described as a business-firm party.[77]
Demonstration against Andrej Babiš in Prague 2019
The Institute for Politics and Society is a think-tank affiliated with ANO. Its task is to raise new politicians for the party. Its founders also say that activity of the Institute should lead to nationwide discussion about national interests and also create space for politicians from a new generation.[78]
Young ANO is the youth wing of ANO. It was established in May 2015.[79]
In the European Committee of the Regions, ANO sits in the Renew Europe CoR group, with three full and one alternate members for the 2020–2025 mandate.[89][90] Jaroslava Pokorna is an ex officio member of the Renew Europe CoR Bureau.[91]
^Stepan Soukenik; Milos Gregor; Anna Matuskova (2017). "Czech Republic". In Alberto Bitonti; Phil Harris (eds.). Lobbying in Europe: Public Affairs and the Lobbying Industry in 28 EU Countries. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 104. ISBN978-1-137-55256-3.
^Kopeček, Lubomír (2016). ""I'm Paying, So I Decide": Czech ANO as an Extreme Form of a Business-Firm Party". East European Politics and Societies. 30 (4): 725–749. doi:10.1177/0888325416650254. S2CID148118413.
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