Czech legislative election, 2006

Czech legislative election, 2006
Czech Republic
2 and 3 June 2006

All 200 seats to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic
101 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Mirek Topolánek Jiří Paroubek
Party ODS ČSSD
Leader's seat Prague Ústí nad Labem
Last election 58 seats 70 seats
Seats won 81 74
Seat change Increase 23 Increase 4
Popular vote 1,892,475 1,728,827
Percentage 35.28% 32.32%

Winning parties by district

PM before election

Jiří Paroubek
ČSSD

Elected PM

Mirek Topolánek
ODS

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.

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Civic Democratic Party1,892,47535.3881+23
Czech Social Democratic Party1,728,82732.3274+4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia685,32812.8126-15
Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party386,7067.2313-9
Green Party336,4876.296+6
SNK European Democrats111,7242.0900
Independent Democrats36,7080.690New
Independents33,0300.620New
Common Sense Party24,8280.4600
Right Bloc20,3820.3800
Freedom Union – Democratic Union16,4570.310–10
Law and Justice12,7560.240New
Moravané12,5520.230New
Equal Opportunities Party10,8790.200New
National Party9,3410.180New
Coalition for the Czech Republic8,1400.150New
Koruna česká7,2930.140New
Balbinova poeticka strana6,8970.1300
4 VIZE3,1090.060New
Czech National Social Party1,3870.0300
Helax-Ostrava se bavi1,3750.030New
Humanist Party8570.020New
Folklore and Society5740.010New
Czech Right3950.0100
Liberal Reform Party2530.000New
National Unity2160.000New
Invalid/blank votes19,519
Total5,368,4951002000
Registered voters/turnout8,333,30564.4
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Popular vote
ODS
 
35.38%
ČSSD
 
32.32%
KSČM
 
12.81%
KDU-ČSL
 
7.23%
SZ
 
6.29%
SNK
 
2.09%
Others
 
3.88%

Results by regions

Winning parties by region

Prague

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 317,224 48.3 14
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 152,962 23.3 6
Green Party (Strana zelených) 60,384 9.2 2
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 51,925 7.9 2
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 31,820 4.8 1
SNK - European Democrats (SNK Evropští demokraté) 23,386 3.6 -
Total (turnout 68.5%) 656,495   25

Central Bohemian Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 243,012 39.2 10
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 190,607 30.7 8
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 79,964 12.9 2
Green Party (Strana zelených) 37,219 6.0 1
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 30,207 4.9 1
SNK - European Democrats (SNK Evropští demokraté) 13,055 2.1 -
Total (turnout 66.0%) 620,047   22

South Bohemian Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 123 804 36.7 6
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 102,833 30.5 4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 45,099 13.4 2
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 27,630 8.2 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 19,924 5.9 -
Total (turnout 66.0%) 620,047   13

Plzeň Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 105,391 36.5 5
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 91,606 31.7 4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 40,578 14.0 2
Green Party (Strana zelených) 17,090 5.9 -
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 16,338 5.7 -
Total (turnout 63.9%) 289,049   11

Karlovy Vary Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 49,189 35.9 2
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 44,887 32.7 2
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 20,323 14.8 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 9,206 6.7 -
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 4,723 3.4 -
Total (turnout 56.5%) 137,117   5

Ústí nad Labem Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 132,895 35.5 6
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 130,365 34.8 5
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 60,175 16.1 2
Green Party (Strana zelených) 22,616 6.0 1
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 8,365 2.2 -
Total (turnout 57.2%) 374,736   14

Liberec Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 83,647 38.8 4
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 63,181 29.3 3
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 24,823 11.5 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 20,646 9.6 -
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 9,131 4.2 -
Total (turnout 62.4%) 215,510   8

Hradec Králové Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 111,466 37.7 5
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 89,204 30.1 4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 89,204 11.5 1
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 19,893 6.7 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 19,819 6.7 -
SNK - European Democrats (SNK Evropští demokraté) 9,126 3.1 -
Total (turnout 66.7%) 295,931   11

Pardubice Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 91,113 33.3 4
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 90,268 33.0 4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 33,956 12.4 1
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 24,023 8.8 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 17,148 6.3 -
SNK - European Democrats (SNK Evropští demokraté) 6,641 2.4 -
Total (turnout 67.4%) 273,921   10

Vysočina Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 97,568 35.4 4
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 76,393 27.7 3
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 40,480 14.7 2
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 33,587 12.2 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 13,514 4.9 -
SNK - European Democrats (SNK Evropští demokraté) 5,525 2.0 -
Total (turnout 67.6%) 275,997   10

South Moravian Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 200,619 33.0 8
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 186,779 30.7 8
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 83,687 13.7 3
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 67,865 11.1 3
Green Party (Strana zelených) 37,771 6.2 1
Total (turnout 65.3%) 608,804   23

Olomouc Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 118,334 35.4 5
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 101,151 30.3 4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 49,026 14.7 2
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 27,609 8.3 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 18,398 5.5 -
Total (turnout 64.5%) 333,849   12

Zlín Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 106,481 33.3 5
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 101,376 31.7 4
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 41,663 13.0 2
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 35,998 11.3 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 16,224 5.1 -
Total (turnout 66.9%) 319,933   12

Moravian-Silesian Region

Parties and coalitions Votes % Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická) 247,382 40.5 11
Civic Democratic Party (Občanská demokratická strana) 171,565 28.1 7
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy) 85,201 14.0 3
Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Křesťansko-demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová) 43,852 7.2 1
Green Party (Strana zelených) 26,528 4.3 1
Total (turnout 61.0%) 610,200   23

Results of the previous election

 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

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Respekt: Last week 23/2006
  3. idnes.cz: Ministrem vnitra bude Kubice, John ve vládě zůstane jako vicepremiér
  4. Český rozhlas: Surprises of the June 2006 elections

External links

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