Prague- Counting began in the Czech Republic's regional and Senate election Saturday as polling stations closed.

Czechs were picking 27 from 81 members of the upper house, the Senate, and governments of country's 13 regions.

Both the Senate and regional governments have been controlled by the senior ruling Civic Democratic Party of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

Analysts expect Topolanek's party to lose its dominance, which could affect his rule and country's ratification of EU's reform Lisbon Treaty just months before the Czech Republic's presidency of the 27-member bloc.

The Czech Statistical Office said it expects to have final results late Saturday.

A Senate election runoff in districts where candidates did not receive an absolute majority this weekend is scheduled for next Friday and Saturday. (dpa)