| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlament / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senat / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Poslanecka Snemovna / Chamber of Deputies
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 20 October 2006
28 October 2006 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Elections were held for one-third (27) of the Senate seats upon the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
Elections were held in October 2006 for 27 of the 81 seats in the Senate
against the backdrop of a stalemate in the Chamber of Deputies
the lower house of Parliament.
Elections to the Chamber of Deputies held in June 2006 had given exactly 100 seats each to the two main political forces
the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD). A minority government led by Mr. Mirek Topolanek and his right-wing ODS had been sworn in on 4 September
but subsequently resigned on 11 October after it failed to win a vote of confidence.
The Senate election results were considered to have a potentially significant impact on negotiations on the formation of a new government. Media attention focused on whether the ODS or the CSSD would gain enough seats to enable them to break the stalemate.
After the last Senate elections held in 2004
the ODS was the largest party with 36 seats
followed by the Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party (KDU - CSL)
and the Caucus of Open Democracy
which won 13 seats each. The CSSD held 11 seats.
In the first round of voting that took place on 20 and 21 October 2006
approximately 42 per cent of the country's 2.78 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The ODS took the lead in 26 of the 27 seats at stake. However
no candidate won the absolute majority required to be elected at the first round.
A second round was held on 27 and 28 October 2006 between the two candidates with the highest scores from the first round. Turnout at the second round was recorded at 20.73 per cent.
The ODS and CSSD both increased the number of seats they held in the Senate
with the ODS taking a narrow overall majority of 41 seats. The KDU-CSL
meanwhile
saw its representation drop to 10 seats.
The newly elected Senate held its first session on 29 November 2006 and re-elected Mr. Premysl Sobotka of the ODS as its Speaker.
Mr. Topolanek was named Prime Minister for a second time in November 2006. After months of negotiation
on 8 January 2007 he formed a new coalition government comprising the ODS
the KDU-CSL and the SZ
thus controlling 100 seats. On 19 January
the abstention of two CSSD parliamentarians enabled Mr. Topolanek to win a new vote of confidence by 100 votes to 97
ending nearly eight months of political stalemate. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 20 October 2006
21 October 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
2'780'914
1'170'474 (42.09%)
106'860
1'063'614 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Round no 2 (from/to) | 27 October 2006
28 October 2006 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
2'781'827
576'630 (20.73%)
2'075
574'555 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU)-Czech People's party (CSL) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Union of Independents - European Democrats |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents Movement (Hnutí NEZÁVISLÍ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Caucus of Open Democracy (SOS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Freedom Union-Democratic Union |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal Reform Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Movement of independents for harmonious development of communes and towns |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Path of Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Association of Democrats-Union of Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Seats 2006 |
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
41
|
14 |
|
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
12
|
6 |
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU)-Czech People's party (CSL) |
10
|
4 |
|
|
|
| Union of Independents - European Democrats |
3
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
2
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Independents Movement (Hnutí NEZÁVISLÍ) |
2
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Independents |
2
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Caucus of Open Democracy (SOS) |
1
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
1
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Freedom Union-Democratic Union |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Liberal Reform Party |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Movement of independents for harmonious development of communes and towns |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Path of Change |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Association of Democrats-Union of Independents |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
21
6
22.22%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
|
30
38
13
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
| Civil servant |
43 |
| Medical professions |
15 |
| Educators |
7 |
| Scientists |
3 |
| Business/Trade/Industry |
3 |
| Legal professions |
2 |
| Farmers |
2 |
| Media-related professions (journalists/publishers) |
2 |
| PC experts |
1 |
| Liberal professions |
1 |
| Others |
1 |
| Architects |
1 |
|
| Comments |
No candidate for the Senate was elected at the first round.
Source: http://www.volby.cz/pls/senat/se2?xjazyk=EN&xdatum=20061020
Note on the "Distribution of seats according to sex":
The "Distribution of seats according to sex" below shows the breakdown for the MPs elected in 2006: 6 women of 27 members
or 22.22%.
After the 2006 elections
there were 12 women in all out of 81 members
or 14.81% (Senate
31.10.2006).
Note on the Distribution of seats according to age and profession:
The distribution of seats according to age and profession below shows the breakdown for all the 81 MPs. |
A historical Archive of past election results for this chamber can be found on a separate page