Czech legislative election, 2006

Czech legislative election, 2006
2–3 June 2006
All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
101 seats needed for a majority

  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mirek Topolánek Jiří Paroubek Vojtěch Filip
Party ODS ČSSD KSČM
Leader's seat Prague Ústí nad Labem South Bohemia
Last election 58 seats, 24.47% 70 seats, 30.20% 41 seats, 18.51%
Seats won 81 74 26
Seat change Increase23 Increase4 Decrease15
Popular vote 1,892,475 1,728,827 685,328
Percentage 35.28% 32.32% 12.81%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Miroslav Kalousek Martin Bursík
Party KDU–ČSL SZ
Leader's seat South Bohemia Prague
Last election 31 seats, 14.27% 0 seats, 2.36%
Seats won 13 6
Seat change Decrease18 Increase6
Popular vote 386,706 336,487
Percentage 7,23% 6.29%
Winning parties by district
Prime Minister before election

Jiří Paroubek
ČSSD

 Elected Prime Minister

Mirek Topolánek
ODS

Legislative elections were held in the Czech Republic on 2 and 3 June 2006 to elect the members of the Chamber of Deputies.[1]

A major scandal broke out a few days before the elections when a classified report by Jan Kubice, the head of the anti-organised crime unit, was leaked to the media, accusing the ruling Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) of corruption and interference in police investigations. The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Social Democratic Party, the two largest parties, obtained their highest percentage of votes ever. Turnout increased from the previous elections election in 2002.

The elections produced an evenly balanced result. One potential coalition – the Civic Democratic Party, Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and Greens – won exactly half of the 200 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and the Communists (KSČM) held the other half, meaning that either coalition would struggle to pass legislation.

Following the elections, 230 days passed without a new government being formed. Eventually, a coalition government formed of the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL and the Greens passed a confidence vote on 19 January 2007, when two Social Democrat deputies abstained.

Campaign

Several weeks before the elections, police officer Jan Kubice, head of the squad for investigating organised crime, suggested that senior figures from the police and the government were trying to cover up their cooperation with organised crime. He was summoned before a parliament commission a few days before the election where he presented a document; the contents of the document were leaked immediately.

The document suggested that former Prime Minister Stanislav Gross had connections with the criminal underground and hinted that Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek was indirectly involved in a murder, dealt with the mafia and was a pedophile. It also contained information about minor officials, some of whom had already been imprisoned for bribery.[2][3]

Paroubek and the others denied these claims and accused the opposition Civic Democratic Party of trying to manufacture a scandal to help them in the elections. After the elections, Paroubek said that the allegations cost his party, the Social Democratic Party, victory and that democracy was in as much danger as in 1948, when the Communists seized power. He raised the possibility of challenging the election result, though this did not happen.[4]

Campaign Finances

PartyČSSDODSKDU-ČSLKSČMSZUS-DEU
Money Spent120,000,000 Kč[5]80,000,000 KČ[5]43,000,000 Kč[5]22,000,000 Kč[5]13,000,000 Kč[6]11,000,000 Kč[6]

Electoral system

The Chamber of Deputies consists of 200 members elected for a four-year term. Seats were allocated by proportional representation between those lists that gained over 5% of the national total of valid votes cast.

Party lists were presented in 14 regions, with votes cast for a list, although voters were 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.

Opinion polls

Date Polling Firm ODS ČSSD KSČM KDU-ČSL SZ US-DEU NEZDEM SNK-ED NEZ Others
2-3 Jun 2006 Election 35.3 32.3 12.8 7.2 6.3 0.3 0.7 2.1 0.6 2.4
25–26 May 2006 SC&C 30.8 24.2 12.1 5.8 8.6 N/A N/A N/A N/A
22 Ma 2006 Median 19.0 20.0 12.2 6.0 8.9 N/A N/A N/A N/A
18–24 May 2006 Factum Invenio 27.8 28.5 17.3 9.0 8.6 1.1 N/A 1.5 N/A 3.0
19. May 2006 CVVM 32.0 28.0 15.5 5.5 10.5 0.5 1.0 2.5 2.0 2.5
12 May 2016 Factum Invenio 29.0 22.8 16.7 11.3 9.8 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
9. May 2006 STEM 26.7 25.2 13.0 5.4 7.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.4 N/A
19 April 2006 STEM 26.8 21.3 13.3 4.9 10.6 0.5 N/A 1.1 0.5 N/A
18 April 2006 Factum Invenio 29.5 23.6 18.1 12.3 10.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
13 April 2006 SC&C 24.0 15.0 11.0 4.0 10.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 35.0
3 April 2006 Factum Invenio 29.3 25.3 17.6 9.9 10.5 2.2 0.6 0.8 1.7 2.1
24 March 2006 CVVM 25.5 21.0 12.5 6.5 10.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 24.5
17 March 2006 STEM 26.7 21.8 12.4 6.1 9.4 0.3 0.1 1.0 0.8 21.6
16 February 2006 STEM 28.6 24.5 15.3 6.4 5.6 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.0 15.6
2 February 2006 CVVM 36.0 35.0 14.5 8.0 3.0 1.0 N/A N/A 1.0 1.5
18 January 2006 STEM 28.6 27.2 13.2 6.7 3.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 0.8 18.3

Results

The election produced a deadlock, leaving the all the coalitions which were considered likely before the election (ODS-KDU-ČSL-Greens; ČSSD-KSČM; ČSSD-KDU-ČSL-Greens) with less than the 101 votes required to pass legislation or to pass a confidence vote for the new cabinet in the Chamber of Deputies (100, 100 and 93 votes, respectively). Remaining possibilities included a grand coalition of the Civic Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, which would command a large majority, totalling 155 seats against 45; a minority cabinet of either of the 100-vote coalitions, which would have negotiate with the opposition to get the majority required for a confidence vote or to pass any legislation; or fresh elections.

On 26 June, the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL and the Greens 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
Party of Common Sense24,8280.4600
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 Česká (Monarchist Party of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia)7,2930.140New
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%
Parliamentary seats
ODS
 
 40.50%
ČSSD
 
 37.00%
KSČM
 
 13.00%
KDU-ČSL
 
 6.50%
SZ
 
 3.00%

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. ↑ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (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
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Kampaň k volbám do Poslanecké sněmovny 2006 - IPM". IPM.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Volby provětrají stranické pokladny, úspěšným se to vyplatí | ČeskéNoviny.cz". www.ceskenoviny.cz. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.