Chamber:
	Senat
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	15 - 16 November 1996 22 - 23 November 1996
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the new Senate provided for in the December 1992 Constitution.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Some 570 candidates, of whom 60 women, registered to run for the 81 Senate seats to be filled in two rounds of voting. Of the main contestants, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) of Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus fielded candidates in all 81 single-member constituencies, while the Communist Party (KSCM) competed in 80 and the main opposition Social Democratic Party (CSSD) in 79. During the campaign, the ODS - leader of the centre-right governing coalition which also comprised the Christian Democratic Union (KDU) and the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) - warned against "a return to the past" vote for its opponents rather than the reform-oriented course followed by the ruling alliance since 1989. For his part, CSSD leader Milos Zeman, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, called for a strong voter turnout. This appeal went largely unheeded, as only 35% of the electorate participated in the first round and just over 30% in the second one week later, on 22 and 23 November. According to unofficial results released on 24 November, the governing coalition secured 52 seats, with 32 going to the ODS; the CSSD captured 26. This outcome was seen as a vote of confidence in the Government of Prime Minister Klaus, whose coalition had, on the contrary, fallen short of retaining its majority in the Chamber of Deputies poll six months earlier, when the Social Democrats made an impressive showing.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (15 - 16 November 1996): Elections results
Number of registered electors	8,000,000 (approx)
Voters	35%
Round no 2 (22 - 23 November 1996): Elections results
Number of registered electors	8,000,000 (approx)
Voters	30.6%

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	%
Coalition	65,12
Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	31.80
Communist Party (KSCM)	1.96
Democratic Union (DEU)	0.64
Independents	0.48

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Coalition	52
Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	25
Communist Party (KSCM)	2
Democratic Union (DEU)	1
Independents	1

Comments:
	The Coalition is formed by the following parties: Civic Democratic Party (ODS): 32 seats Christian Democratic Union (KDU-CSL): 13 seats Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA): 7 seats

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	72
Women:	9