| 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) | 17 October 2008
25 October 2008 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for one-third (27) of the Senate seats upon the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
On 16 July 2008
President Václav Klaus called elections for one third of the 81-member Senate and 13 of the 14 regional assemblies for 17 and 18 October (with run-off Senate elections scheduled for the following week).
In the previous elections held in October 2006
the Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
led by Mr. Mirek Topolánek
won 14 of the 27 seats at stake
taking a narrow overall majority in the Senate with 41 seats. This victory helped resolve the stalemate that followed the June 2006 elections to the 200-member Chamber of Deputies in which the main forces
led by the ODS and the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)
had won 100 seats each. Mr. Topolánek's minority government won a vote of confidence in January 2007. It comprised the ODS
the Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL
four seats in the Senate) and the Green Party (SZ
one seat). The coalition government was divided over some key issues
such as health care reform
the stationing of a US radar base on Czech territory and the deployment of Czech soldiers in Afghanistan.
On 15 February 2008
parliament re-elected Mr. Klaus (ODS's honorary Chairman) as the country's President in the fourth round of voting. His main rival was Mr. Jan Svejnar (CSSD).
Prior to the 2008 elections
the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister reportedly deteriorated due to policy differences towards the European Union (EU) and a planned US radar base. The Czech Republic is due to take over the EU Presidency in January 2009. Mr. Klaus has publicly opposed further transfer of power to the EU
the Lisbon Treaty (aimed at reforming EU institutions) and the introduction of the euro. Parliament is due to vote on the Lisbon Treaty after the Constitutional Court decides whether or not it violates the country's Constitution.
The disputes caused an internal rift within the ODS with its two Deputy Chairmen - Mr. Pavel Bém and Mr. Petr Bendl - allying with the President. President Klaus said that the 2008 Senate elections would be a referendum on Prime Minister Topolánek's government. Prime Minister Topolánek did not lead the ODS election campaign
saying that regional politicians had argued that the campaign should not be conducted on the central level.
The introduction in January 2008 of direct payment of health care fees as the first phase of a reform to curb waste and abuse in the healthcare system had rendered the ODS unpopular. The CSSD urged voters to ensure that the Senate could act as a counterweight to the Chamber of Deputies
by refusing an ODS majority.
In early September
the ODS was rocked by accusations that one of its members in the Chamber of Deputies was trying to blackmail another ODS member and a SZ member. The accused parliamentarian resigned on 8 September. Several ODS deputies protested against Mr. Topolánek's leadership
with some supporting First Deputy Chairman Bém. CSSD Chairman Jini Paroubek called on Prime Minister Topolánek to resign.
A total of 39.52 per cent of the 2.8 million registered voters turned out the polls. Only one candidate
a CSSD candidate secured an absolute majority to be elected in the first round. Other CSSD candidates had a clear lead in many constituencies. In the regional elections
the CSSD won in all 13 regions
12 of which had been ruled by the ODS.
The run-off elections on 24 and 25 October recorded an unusually high turnout of 29.85 per cent
the second highest in run-off elections since the Senate's inception in 1996.
The CSSD won the Senate elections for the first time
taking 23 of the 27 seats at stake. Its strength in the Senate increased to 29 in total. The ODS recorded its worst results
taking only three seats. With 35 seats in all
the ODS lost its absolute majority in the Senate. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) took the remaining seat
thus holding three seats in the Senate. Five women (four from the CSSD and one from the KSCM) were elected
bringing the total number of women senators to 14.
Prime Minister Topolánek conceded defeat and admitted that his ODS had failed to articulate its goals in the elections.
The newly elected Senate held its first session on 26 November and re-elected Mr. Premysl Sobotka (ODS) as its new Speaker. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 17 October 2008
18 October 2008 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
2'852'506
1'127'259 (39.52%)
1'047'358 |
|
Notes
|
The number of ballots cast was 1
115
868. |
| Round no 2 (from/to) | 24 October 2008
25 October 2008 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
2'764'218
825'126 (29.85%)
822'353 |
|
Notes
|
The number of ballots cast was 824
490.
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Association of Independents - European Democrats |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| United Democrats-Union of Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance - Freedom Union |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Open Society Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Open Society Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Association of Independents - European Democrats |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| United Democrats-Union of Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance - Freedom Union |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Seats 2008 |
Grand Total |
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Association of Independents - European Democrats |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| United Democrats-Union of Independents |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance - Freedom Union |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
0
|
|
|
|
|
| Open Society Party |
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round no 2
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Seats 2008 |
Grand Total |
|
|
| Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) |
22
|
23 |
29 |
|
|
| Civic Democratic Party (ODS) |
3
|
3 |
35 |
|
|
| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) |
1
|
1 |
3 |
|
|
| Green Party (SZ) |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Open Society Party |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Association of Independents - European Democrats |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| United Democrats-Union of Independents |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Independents Mayors for Region (NSK) |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Civic Democratic Alliance - Freedom Union |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Independents |
0
|
0 |
1 |
|
|
| Christian Democratic Union (KDU) |
0
|
0 |
7 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
22
5
18.52%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note on the "Distribution of seats according to sex":
The "Distribution of seats according to sex" above shows the breakdown for the MPs elected in 2008: 5 women of 27 members or 18.52%.
After the 2010 elections, there were 14 women in all out of 81 members, or 17.28% (Senate, 29.10.2008).
Sources:
- Senate (29.10.2008)
- http://www.volby.cz/pls/senat/se?xjazyk=EN&xdatum=20081017 |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
