The party of billionaire ex-premier Andrej Babiš led in the Czech general election on Saturday with over 80 per cent of the vote counted, according to official results.

His ANO (Yes) party, campaigning on pledges of welfare and halting military aid to Ukraine, scored 36.5 per cent of the vote in a country of 10.9 million people, according to interim figures.

The Together grouping of outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala came second with 21.8 per cent, ahead of its coalition partner STAN with 10.8 per cent.

A total of six parties looked on track to enter parliament, with final results expected later on Saturday. The country is a member of both the EU and Nato.

Fiala’s government has provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

But Babiš’s return to power could draw the Czech Republic closer to EU mavericks Hungary and Slovakia which have refused military aid to Ukraine and oppose sanctions on Russia.