Voters in the Czech Republic returned to polling stations on Saturday to conclude two days of local and Senate elections, a ballot widely viewed as a test for Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

Polling stations reopened at 08:00 CEST and will close at 14:00 CEST, following Friday’s first day of voting. More than 8 million eligible voters are choosing municipal and town councils in over 6,200 districts, while a third of the Senate’s seats are also at stake. The Senate vote, held every two years for a portion of its members, will determine whether the liberal and conservative opposition retains its majority or if governing parties and allies gain ground.

Babis, a populist billionaire, formed a coalition government last December after his ANO party won parliamentary elections by capitalizing on economic frustration and skepticism over Ukraine spending. His administration has since faced challenges, including opposition criticism of a widening budget deficit, though he survived a no-confidence vote earlier this month. Babis, 72, co-founded the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Housing shortages, a pressing issue in major Czech cities, have emerged as a key concern for voters. President Petr Pavel announced he would not cast his ballot, as he is on a private holiday outside Europe; his spokesman stated the president regretted the planning error.

Turnout for the first day was estimated at around 20 percent, according to Tomas Jírovec, director of the elections department at the Interior Ministry, who spoke to Radiožurnál .