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2006 Czech parliamentary election

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2006 Czech parliamentary election

← 2002 2–3 June 2006 2010 →

All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
101 seats needed for a majority
Turnout64.42% (Increase6.47pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mirek Topolánek Jiří Paroubek Vojtěch Filip
Party ODS ČSSD KSČM
Last election 24.48%, 58 seats 30.21%, 70 seats 18.51%, 41 seats
Seats won 81 74 26
Seat change Increase23 Increase4 Decrease15
Popular vote 1,892,475 1,728,827 685,328
Percentage 35.38% 32.32% 12.81%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Miroslav Kalousek Martin Bursík
Party Lidovci SZ
Last election 14.28%, 31 seats 2.37%, 0 seats
Seats won 13 6
Seat change Decrease18 Increase6
Popular vote 386,706 336,487
Percentage 7.23% 6.29%


Prime Minister before election

Jiří Paroubek
ČSSD

Prime Minister after election

Mirek Topolánek
ODS

Parliamentary 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 parliamentary elections 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

[edit]

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

[edit]
Party ČSSD ODS KDU-ČSL KSČM SZ US-DEU
Money Spent 120,000,000 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

[edit]

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

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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
22 May 2006 Median 19.0 20.0 12.2 6.0 8.9
18–24 May 2006 Factum Invenio 27.8 28.5 17.3 9.0 8.6 1.1 1.5 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 2006 Factum Invenio 29.0 22.8 16.7 11.3 9.8
9. May 2006 STEM 26.7 25.2 13.0 5.4 7.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.4
19 April 2006 STEM 26.8 21.3 13.3 4.9 10.6 0.5 1.1 0.5
18 April 2006 Factum Invenio 29.5 23.6 18.1 12.3 10.0
13 April 2006 SC&C 24.0 15.0 11.0 4.0 10.0 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 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 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

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The election produced a deadlock, leaving 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.

PartyVotes%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
KDU-ČSL386,7067.2313–10
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 Union16,4570.310–8
Law and Justice12,7560.240New
Moravané12,5520.230New
Equal Opportunities Party10,8790.200New
National Party9,3410.170New
Coalition for the Czech Republic (KANČSNSNS)8,1400.150New
Koruna Česká7,2930.140New
Balbín's Poetic Party6,8970.1300
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
Total5,348,976100.002000
Valid votes5,348,97699.64
Invalid/blank votes19,5190.36
Total votes5,368,495100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,333,30564.42
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

By region

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Winning parties by region

Prague

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PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party317,22448.3214
Czech Social Democratic Party152,96223.306
Green Party60,3849.202
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia51,9257.912
KDU-ČSL31,8204.851
SNK European Democrats23,3863.560
Other parties18,7942.860
Total656,495100.0025

Central Bohemian Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party243,01239.1910
Czech Social Democratic Party190,60730.748
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia79,96412.903
Green Party37,2196.001
KDU-ČSL30,2074.871
SNK European Democrats13,0552.110
Other parties25,9834.190
Total620,047100.0023

South Bohemian Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party123,80436.696
Czech Social Democratic Party102,83330.484
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia45,09913.372
KDU-ČSL27,6308.191
Green Party19,9245.910
Other parties18,0975.360
Total337,387100.0013

Plzeň Region

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PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party105,39136.465
Czech Social Democratic Party91,60631.694
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia40,57814.042
Green Party17,0905.910
KDU-ČSL16,3385.650
Other parties18,0466.240
Total289,049100.0011

Karlovy Vary Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party49,18935.872
Czech Social Democratic Party44,88732.742
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia20,32314.821
Green Party9,2066.710
KDU-ČSL4,7233.440
Other parties8,7896.410
Total137,117100.005

Ústí nad Labem Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party132,89535.466
Civic Democratic Party130,36534.795
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia60,17516.062
Green Party22,6166.041
KDU-ČSL8,3652.230
Other parties20,3205.420
Total374,736100.0014

Liberec Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party83,64738.814
Czech Social Democratic Party63,18129.323
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia24,82311.521
Green Party20,6469.580
KDU-ČSL9,1314.240
Other parties14,0826.530
Total215,510100.008

Hradec Králové Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party111,46637.675
Czech Social Democratic Party89,20430.144
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia34,09311.521
KDU-ČSL19,8936.721
Green Party19,8196.700
SNK European Democrats9,1263.080
Other parties12,3304.170
Total295,931100.0011

Pardubice Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Civic Democratic Party91,11333.264
Czech Social Democratic Party90,26832.954
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia33,95612.401
KDU-ČSL24,0238.771
Green Party17,1486.260
SNK European Democrats6,6412.420
Other parties10,7723.930
Total273,921100.0010

Vysočina Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party97,56835.354
Civic Democratic Party76,39327.683
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia40,48014.672
KDU-ČSL33,58712.171
Green Party13,5144.900
SNK European Democrats5,5252.000
Other parties8,9303.240
Total275,997100.0010

South Moravian Region

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PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party200,61932.958
Civic Democratic Party186,77930.688
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia83,68713.753
KDU-ČSL67,86511.153
Green Party37,7716.201
Other parties32,0835.270
Total608,804100.0023

Olomouc Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party118,33435.455
Civic Democratic Party101,15130.304
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia49,02614.692
KDU-ČSL27,6098.271
Green Party18,3985.510
Other parties19,3315.790
Total333,849100.0012

Zlín Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party106,48133.285
Civic Democratic Party101,37631.694
KDU-ČSL41,66313.022
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia35,99811.251
Green Party16,2245.070
Other parties18,1915.690
Total319,933100.0012

Moravian-Silesian Region

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party247,38240.5411
Civic Democratic Party171,56528.127
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia85,20113.963
KDU-ČSL43,8527.191
Green Party26,5284.351
Other parties35,6725.850
Total610,200100.0023

References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ "Last week 23/2006".
  3. ^ "Ministrem vnitra bude Kubice, John ve vládě zůstane jako vicepremiér".
  4. ^ "Surprises of the June 2006 elections".
  5. ^ a b c d "Kampaň k volbám do Poslanecké sněmovny 2006 - IPM". IPM.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Volby provětrají stranické pokladny, úspěšným se to vyplatí". ceskenoviny.cz. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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