Civic Democratic Party
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| Civic Democratic Party | |
|---|---|
| Občanská demokratická strana | |
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| Leader | Mirek Topolánek |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Jánský Vršek 13, Prague |
| Political ideology | Liberal conservatism,
Conservatism with elements of euroscepticism |
| International affiliation | International Democrat Union |
| European affiliation | European Democrat Union, Movement for European Reform |
| European Parliament group | EPP-ED |
| Colour(s) | blue |
| Website | www.ods.cz |
| Czech Republic |
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The Civic Democratic Party (Czech: Občanská demokratická strana - abbreviation: ODS) is the largest right-wing political party in the Czech Republic. In its public statements, it typically mixes eurosceptic and market liberal rhetoric, although it is often viewed as more moderate on both issues in actual policies.
The party was founded in 1991, after the Civic Forum split, by Václav Klaus and it is currently led by Mirek Topolánek since 2002. It led the Czech government in 1993-1997 and supported the government of the Czech Social Democratic Party in 1998-2002 under a power sharing agreement.
In the 2002 elections, it went from being the largest seat holder to being the second largest party in the Chamber of Deputies with 58 of 200 seats, and for the first time in its history, assumed the role of a true opposition party. The current Czech president, Václav Klaus, is the party's honorary president. In the European Parliament elections in June 2004 and in Senate and regional assembly elections in November 2004 it received over 30% of the votes.
In the 2006 elections it was the largest seat holder in the Chamber of Deputies with 81 seats. It formed a government in coalition with the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and the Green Party (SZ).
Internationally, it is aligned with the International Democratic Union, the party itself claims to have similar ideas along the lines of the British Conservative Party, the Polish Civic Platform and the Spanish Partido Popular.
In July 2006, the Civic Democratic Party signed an agreement with the British Conservative Party to leave the EPP-ED Group and form a new centre-right European political party called MER (Movement for European Reform) in 2009. Yet, at the same time, Mirek Topolánek “has not ruled out the possibility of staying in the EPP-ED".[1]
[edit] Election results
- 1992 Czech National Council: (in coalition with Christian Democratic Party 29,7 %) - 66 seats
- 1996 Chamber of Deputies: 29.6 % - 68 seats
- 1996 Senate: 29 seats (whole Senate elected, only one third in next elections)
- 1998 Chamber of Deputies: 27.8 % - 63 seats
- 1998 Senate: 9 seats
- 2000 Senate: 8 seat
- 2002 Chamber of Deputies: 25.4 % - 58 seats
- 2002 Senate: 9 seats
- 2004 Senate: 18 seats
- 2004 European Parliament: 30 % - 9 seats
- 2006 Chamber of Deputies: 35.4 % - 81 seats
- 2006 Senate: 14 seats
[edit] Leaders of the Civic Democratic Party
- Václav Klaus 1991 - 2002
- Mirek Topolanek 2002 - Present
[edit] External links
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