2002 Czech Senate election

Senate elections were held in the Czech Republic on 25 and 26 October 2002, with a second round on 1 and 2 November.[1] Voter turnout was just 24.1% in the first round and 31.7% in the second.[2]

2002 Czech Senate election
25–26 October 2002 (first round)
1–2 November 2002 (second round)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Václav Klaus Vladimír Špidla
Party ODS ČSSD
Seats won 9 7
First round 165,794
24.9%		 122,397
18.4%
Second round 284,537
34.6%		 224,386
27.3%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Miroslav Grebeníček Cyril Svoboda
Party KSČM KDU–ČSL
Seats won 1 1
First round 110,171
16.5%		 58,858
8.8%
Second round 57,434
7.0%		 47,049
5.7%
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The results saw the Civic Democratic Party emerge as the most successful party, winning nine seats. Independent candidates were also successful, winning eight seats. The parties of the former Four-Coalition were heavily defeated.[3]

Electoral system

One third of the 81-member Senate is elected every two years, giving Senators six year terms. The seats are elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system.[4]

Background

Czech Social Democratic Party held 11 Seats in the elected part of Senate. Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party held second highest number of seats - 6. Both parties were part of governing coalition. Opposition Civic Democratic Party held only 5 Seats. Election was considered important due to 2003 Presidential election. Czech Social Democratic Party was considered front-runner of the election while the Civic Democratic Party was expected to be second strongest party.[5]

Composition of contested seats prior to the elections
Name Ideology Leader Seats
Czech Social Democratic Party Social democracy Vladimír Špidla
11 / 27
KDU-ČSL Christian democracy Cyril Svoboda
6 / 27
Civic Democratic Party Conservatism Václav Klaus
5 / 27
Civic Democratic Alliance Liberalism Jiřina Nováková
3 / 27
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Communism Miroslav Grebeníček
1 / 27
Independents
1 / 27

Opinion polls
Date Polling firm ČSSD KDU-ČSL ODS ODA KSČM US–DEU
2 November 2002 Result 7 1 9 0 1 1
7 October 2002 SC&C[6] 12 4 4 0 1 1
November 1996 Previous election 11 6 5 3 1 0

Results
Party First round Second round Seats +/–
Votes % Votes % Won Overall
Civic Democratic Party165,79424.9284,53734.6926+4
Czech Social Democratic Party122,39718.4224,38627.3711–4
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia110,17116.557,4347.0130
KDU-ČSL58,8588.847,0495.7115–4
Freedom Union – Democratic Union48,8797.336,2944.4826+4
Union of Independents44,1126.645,0965.5
Independent Candidate29,7764.536,0214.4
Independents27,5334.123,8122.9
Independents and others58,9358.867,6588.2
Invalid/blank votes7,366–35,204––––
Total673,821100857,49110027810
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p472
  3. "Nezávislí útočí". iDNES.cz. 3 November 2002. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. Electoral system IPU
  5. "V senátních volbách jde i o prezidenta". iDNES.cz. 18 October 2002. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. "Průzkum výsledků senátních voleb". www.kurzy.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 May 2018.
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