TOP 09
| TOP 09 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Karel Schwarzenberg |
| Founded | 11 June 2009 |
| Headquarters | Michnův palác, Újezd 450/40, 118 00 Prague 1 – Malá strana |
| Ideology |
Conservatism,[1] Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre-right[2] |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| Colours | Blue[3] |
| Chamber of Deputies |
26 / 200 |
| Senate |
1 / 81 |
| European Parliament |
1 / 22 |
| Regional councils |
44 / 675 |
| Local councils |
6,580 / 62,178 |
| Website | |
|
Politics of the Czech Republic Political parties Elections | |
TOP 09 (name derived from Tradice Odpovědnost Prosperita 09, meaning "Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09") is a fiscally conservative political party in the Czech Republic, led by the former Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and noted for its support of the free market and the European Union.[4] TOP 09 holds 26 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
History
The party was founded on 11 June 2009 by Miroslav Kalousek as a pro-free market split from the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party.[5] Leader Karel Schwarzenberg, who had previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (2007-2009), having been nominated by the Green Party for the post, and who had been elected to the Senate in 2004 as nominee of the Freedom Union – Democratic Union (US-DEU) and Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) parties, became the party's first leader.[6][7]
Based on voting preferences polls, the party soon enjoyed popularity as the second strongest right-wing party (the Civic Democrats (ODS) being the first),[8] as was confirmed during 2010 parliament elections, where 16.70% voted for TOP 09 and 20.22% for ODS.[9]
TOP09 forms part of the current government together with the ODS and the LIDEM. In this government TOP09 has five ministerial posts:
- Karel Schwarzenberg – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Miroslav Kalousek – Minister of Finance
- Leoš Heger – Minister of Health
- Alena Hanáková – Minister of Culture
- Ludmila Müllerová – Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
In September 2010 TOP09 applied to join the European People's Party as a member. Karel Schwarzenberg has already officially participated in two EPP summits (15 September[10] and 16 December 2010[11]). On 10 February 2011 TOP 09 has officially been granted permission to join the EPP.[12]
Influential MEP Jan Březina joined the party from KDU–ČSL in February 2012.[13]
References
- ↑ "Parties and Elections in Europe, "Czech Republic", The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck". Parties & Elections. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ↑ http://fpc.org.uk/articles/536
- ↑ Politika24
- ↑ "Czech TOP 09 supports EU integration". Czech News Agency. 26 October 2009.
- ↑ (German) Klausmann, Alexandra (21 May 2010). "Tschechien: Jugend vereint gegen Linksparteien". Wiener Zeitung.
- ↑ "Schwarzenberg to be Kalousek's Czech TOP 09 party leader". Czech News Agency. 11 June 2009.
- ↑ "Karel Schwarzenberg", TOP 09 party website, retrieved 7 June 2013
- ↑ "Volby 2010". Lidové noviny. Czech Republic. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "Official results of election to the Parliament of the Czech Republic 2010". Volby.cz. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ administrator (16 September 2010). "EPP welcomes European Council conclusions; Roma issue should not be exploited". Epp.eu. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ administrator. "EPP official website". Epp.eu. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "TOP 09 členem nejsilnější evropské strany – TOP 09". Top09.cz. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ (Czech) Němec, Jan (8 February 2012). "Rána pro lidovce, známý europoslanec Březina je opouští". Aktuálně. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
External links
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