Czech legislative election, 2006
Czech legislative election, 2006
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Parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on 2 and 3 June 2006.[1]
The pre-election campaign was fierce and mostly negative. A major scandal broke out few days before the election. The two largest parties had profited from the divisive campaign – both had obtained the highest percentage of votes ever. Turnout of otherwise apathetic Czech voters was increased, compared to previous parliament election.
The election has produced an evenly balanced result. One potential coalition – the Civic Democratics (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and Greens (SZ) – took 100 seats, exactly half. The Social Democrats (ČSSD) and Communists (KSČM) comprised the other half of the chamber, making the possibility of a minority Social Democratic government supported by the Communists equally problematic.
The Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and Greens finally gained confidence on 19 January 2007 (230 days after the elections), thanks to two social democratic deputies who abstained, thus effectively choosing a right-wing government rather than the unstable situation ongoing since the June 2006 elections.
Campaign
Several weeks before the election police officer Jan Kubice, head of the squad for uncovering organised crime, hinted that highest members of police and the government were trying to cover up their cooperation with organised crime. He was summoned before parliament commission few days before the election where he presented a document; contents of the document immediately leaked out.
The document suggested that former prime minister Stanislav Gross had a connection with criminal underground and hinted that prime minister Jiří Paroubek was indirectly involved in a murder, deals with the mafia and is a pedophile. It also contained information about minor officials, some already imprisoned for suspicions of bribery.[2][3]
Paroubek and the others denied these claims and accused the opposition (ODS) of trying to manufacture a scandal to avoid election failure. After the election Paroubek said that the allegations cost his party (ČSSD) victory and that democracy was in as much danger as in 1948 (when the Communists seized power). Initially, he planned to challenge the election result.[4]
Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies consists of 200 members elected for a four year term. Seats are allocated by proportional representation amongst those lists which have gained at least 5% of the national total of valid votes cast.
Party lists are presented in 14 regions. Votes are cast for a list but voters are allowed up to two preference votes for candidates on that list.
The Czech Republic has a parliamentary system of government, with ministers being responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber is the most powerful organ of the state with power to override vetoes by the President and the Senate.
Results
The election produced a deadlock, leaving the all the coalitions which were considered likely before the election (Civic Democrats (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and Greens (SZ); Social Democrats (ČSSD) and Communists (KSČM); Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Greens) with less than the 101 votes necessary to pass legislation or to sustain the required confidence vote for the new cabinet in the Chamber of Deputies (100, 100 and 93 votes, respectively).
Possibilities at this point include a highly improbable grand coalition of the Civic Democrats and Social Democrats, which would command a powerful majority, adding up to 155 seats against 45; a minority cabinet of either of the 100-vote coalitions, which would have to be at least partly negotiated with the would-be opposition to get the majority required to approve it and pass any legislation; or a new call for fresh elections.
On 26 June, ODS, KDU-ČSL and SZ announced, that they had agreed on a coalition. Their government is expected to have 16 ministers: 10 from ODS, 3 from KDU-ČSL and 3 from SZ.
The coalition hoped to get the missing vote from ČSSD deputies. ČSSD, on the other hand, suggested to elect a temporary government until, new, premature election is hold. As of July 2006, the election of the chairman of the parliament is not concluded, blocking installation and then vote of confidence for the new government.
Major parties politicians had hinted the possibility to repeat the election, earliest on Autumn 2006. Voices suggesting that the switch to a majority representation is a way to avoid deadlocks like current one had appeared.
The situation was resolved, however in January 2007, giving the Centre-Right coalition and Green Parties government.
| Party |
Votes |
% |
Seats |
+/– |
| Civic Democratic Party |
1,892,475 |
35.38 |
81 |
+23 |
| Czech Social Democratic Party |
1,728,827 |
32.32 |
74 |
+4 |
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia |
685,328 |
12.81 |
26 |
-15 |
| Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party |
386,706 |
7.23 |
13 |
-9 |
| Green Party |
336,487 |
6.29 |
6 |
+6 |
| SNK European Democrats |
111,724 |
2.09 |
0 |
0 |
| Independent Democrats |
36,708 |
0.7 |
0 |
New |
| Independents |
33,030 |
0.6 |
0 |
New |
| Common Sense Party |
24,828 |
0.5 |
0 |
0 |
| Right Bloc |
20,382 |
0.4 |
0 |
0 |
| Freedom Union – Democratic Union |
16,457 |
0.3 |
0 |
–10 |
| Law and Justice |
12,756 |
0.2 |
0 |
New |
| Moravané |
12,552 |
0.2 |
0 |
New |
| Equal Opportunities Party |
10,879 |
0.2 |
0 |
New |
| National Party |
9,431 |
0.2 |
0 |
New |
| Coalition for the Czech Republic |
8,140 |
0.2 |
0 |
New |
| Koruna česká |
7,293 |
0.1 |
0 |
New |
| BPS |
6,897 |
0.1 |
0 |
0 |
| 4 VIZE |
3,109 |
0.1 |
0 |
New |
| Czech National Social Party |
1,387 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
| HOB |
1,375 |
0.0 |
0 |
New |
| Humanist Party |
857 |
0.0 |
0 |
New |
| Folklore and Society |
574 |
0.0 |
0 |
New |
| Czech Right |
395 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
| Liberal Reform Party |
253 |
0.0 |
0 |
New |
| National Unity |
216 |
0.0 |
0 |
New |
| Invalid/blank votes |
19,519 |
– |
– |
– |
| Total |
5,368,495 |
100 |
200 |
0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Results by regions
Prague
Central Bohemian Region
South Bohemian Region
Plzeň Region
Karlovy Vary Region
Ústí nad Labem Region
Liberec Region
Hradec Králové Region
Pardubice Region
Vysočina Region
South Moravian Region
Olomouc Region
Zlín Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Results of the previous election
e • d Summary of the 14-15 June, 2002 Czech Chamber of Deputies election results
| Parties and coalitions |
Votes |
% |
Seats |
|
Czech Social Democratic Party |
1,440,279 |
30.20 |
70 |
|
Civic Democratic Party |
1,166,975 |
24.47 |
58 |
|
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia |
882,653 |
18.51 |
41 |
|
Coalition (Koalice) |
Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party |
680,671 |
14.27 |
22 |
| Freedom Union–Democratic Union |
9 |
|
Union of Independents |
132,699 |
2.78 |
0 |
|
Green Party |
112,929 |
2.36 |
0 |
|
Republicans of Miroslav Sládek |
46,325 |
0.97 |
0 |
| Total (turnout 58.00%) |
|
100.00 |
200 |
| Source: Czech Statistical Office |
References
- ^ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 9873832956097
- ^ Respekt: Last week 23/2006
- ^ idnes.cz: Ministrem vnitra bude Kubice, John ve vládě zůstane jako vicepremiér
- ^ Český rozhlas: Surprises of the June 2006 elections
External links