2021 Czech legislative election

The 2021 Czech legislative election will be held on 8 and 9 October 2021. All 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies will be elected and the leader of the resulting government will become the Prime Minister.

2021 Czech legislative election
8–9 October 2021
All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
101 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Andrej Babiš Petr Fiala Ivan Bartoš
Party ANO ODS Pirates
Alliance SPOLU Pirates,
STAN
Leader since 1 August 2012 18 January 2014 2 April 2016
Leader's seat Central Bohemia South Moravia Ústí nad Labem
Last election 78 seats, 29.6% 42 seats, 22.4% 28 seats, 16.0%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Tomio Okamura Vojtěch Filip Jan Hamáček
Party SPD KSČM ČSSD
Leader since 5 May 2015 1 October 2005 18 February 2018
Leader's seat Central Bohemia South Bohemia Central Bohemia
Last election 22 seats, 10.6% 15 seats, 7.8% 15 seats, 7.3%
Prime Minister before election

Andrej Babiš
ANO

 Elected Prime Minister

TBD

Since the 2017 election, the Czech Republic has been led by a minority government consisting of ANO 2011, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), led by Interior Minister Jan Hamáček, with support from the Communist Party. The largest opposition party is the Czech Pirate Party followed by the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Babiš is running for re-election.

Electoral system

During previous elections the 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected from 14 multi-member constituencies by open list proportional representation with an electoral threshold of 5%. The threshold was raised to 10% for two-party alliances, 15% for three-party alliances and 20% for alliances of four or more parties. Seats were allocated using the D'Hondt method. Voters can give preference votes to up to four candidates on a list. Candidates who receive preferential votes from more than 5% of voters are moved to the top of their list; in cases where more than one candidate receives over 5% of the preferential votes, they are ranked in order of votes received.[1]

It was expected that 2021 election would be held with the same electoral system, but on 2 February 2021 the Constitutional Court made a decision on the complaint from a group of Senators which were members of Mayors and Independents, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09. The complaint stated that electoral system is unproportional as it favours larger parties. The complaint focused on the D'Hondt method method, the division of the country to 14 constituencies and the increased electoral threshold for alliances.[2] The Constitutional Court's decision was published on 3 February 2021. It set the threshold for alliances at 5%. Additionally, it removed some provisions relating to seat allocation. New provisions must be put into law before the election.[3]

Background

According to the Constitution of the Czech Republic, an election to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Parliament, must be held every four years. The Government is answerable to the Chamber of Deputies and remains in power only with the confidence of the majority of members of parliament. Article 19(1) of the Constitution states that any citizen of the Czech Republic who has right to vote and is 21 years old is eligible to serve as an MP.

ANO 2011 emerged as the largest party in the 2017 legislative election and formed a minority government, which then lost a vote of confidence on 16 January 2018. The party then formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats, supported by the Communist Party. Andrej Babiš became the new Prime Minister.

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) emerged as the second largest party and main opposition party, narrowly ahead of the Pirate Party.[4]

2018 Senate and municipal elections

In 2018, voters elected 27 of 81 Senators and approximately 61,900 members of local councils. ODS won the Senate election with 10 Senators elected.[5] ANO 2011 won the municipal elections in most regional cities, with ODS finishing first in Prague only.[6]

2020 Senate and regional elections

In October 2020, voters elected 675 members of regional assemblies in 13 regions of the nation (except Prague) which then formed regional governments. ANO 2011 won the election with 21.8% of votes, but opposition parties, especially the Pirate Party, made gains, while allies of ANO were heavily defeated.[7][8][9] The governing parties were also heavily defeated in the Senate elections, which were won by Mayors and Independents ahead of ODS.[10]

Coalitions of political parties

Following the 2020 regional elections, opposition parties began negotiations about potential electoral alliances. It was speculated that two electoral blocs would be formed: a conservative bloc led by ODS, which would also include KDU-ČSL and TOP 09, with Petr Fiala as leader, and a liberal bloc composed of the Pirate Party and Mayors and Independents, with Ivan Bartoš as the leader.[11]

The ODS leadership agreed to form an alliance on 25 October 2020, with a memorandum to be signed two days later.[12] On 27 October 2020, Fiala, Marian Jurečka, and Markéta Adamová announced that ODS, KDU-ČSL, and TOP 09 would form an electoral alliance for the next legislative election, with ODS leader Fiala as the alliance's candidate for Prime Minister.[13] On 11 November 2020, the parties agreed that ODS would nominate the leaders of the election lists in nine regions, KDU-ČSL in three regions, and TOP 09 in two regions.[14] The name of the alliance was announced as Together (later renamed to Let's Go Into It Together).[15] Petr Fiala was confirmed as the alliance's candidate for Prime Minister on 16 December 2020.[16]

The leadership of Mayors and Independents agreed to start negotiations on 8 October 2020.[17] The Pirates are required to ratify any alliance in an members' referendum. In a poll on 20 October 2020, 51% of Pirate Party members were opposed to the alliance while 43% supported it. The referendum to starting negotiations for an alliance was originally scheduled for 13 to 16 November 2020,[18] but was rescheduled for 20 to 23 November 2020.[19] Among Pirate Party members, 695 out of 858 voted in favour of negotiations, with a turnout of 80%.[20] Ivan Bartoš was nominated to be the Pirate Party's election leader on 25 November 2020,[21] and was confirmed on 2 December 2020. The Pirates also offered the Green Party the possibility to join its electoral list.[22] Ivan Bartoš was confirmed as the alliance's electoral leader on 14 December 2020.[23] Pirate Party members voted to approve the alliance on 13 January 2021.[24]

On 28 December 2020, Czech President Miloš Zeman announced that 8 and 9 October 2021 will be the dates of the election.[25]

The Czech Social Democratic Party started to negotiate the formation of a third electoral bloc in January 2021, negotiating with the Green Party and some regional parties about the formation of a left-wing electoral alliance.[26] Green Party gave ČSSD a condition for the alliance that parties wouldn't for a government coalition with ANO 2011 after the election.[27]

Parties

The table below lists parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies after the 2017 parliamentary election.

Name Ideology Leader 2017 result
Votes (%) Seats
ANO Centrism, Populism Andrej Babiš 29.6%
78 / 200
Together Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Christian democracy Petr Fiala 22.4%
42 / 200
Pirates and STAN Pirate politics, Liberalism Ivan Bartoš 16.0%
28 / 200
SPD Right-wing populism Tomio Okamura 10.6%
22 / 200
KSČM Communism Vojtěch Filip 7.8%
15 / 200
ČSSD Social democracy Jan Hamáček 7.3%
15 / 200

Current composition
Party Seats
ANO 201178
Civic Democratic Party23
Czech Pirate Party22
Freedom and Direct Democracy19
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia15
Czech Social Democratic Party14
KDU–ČSL10
TOP 097
Mayors and Independents6
Unified – Alternative for Patriots3
Tricolour Citizens' Movement3

Campaign

People FOR

The People FOR political movement, led by political activist Mikuláš Minář, was launched on 3 December 2020, and started gathering the 500,000 signatures required for participation in the elections. Minář said that the movement does not want to be another 5% party.[28]

Pirates and STAN

The Czech Pirate Party and Mayors and Independents (STAN) formed an electoral alliance led by Ivan Bartoš, presenting their cooperation agreement in December 2020. Priorities in the agreement included lower taxes, better availability of health care in the regions, protection of the climate, and transparent governance. The parties also agreed to support adoption of the Euro.[29] Bartoš said on 11 January that the alliance's priorities during the campaign would include reform of the debt collection system, digitalisation, environmental issues, and education.[30]

Together

Three Conservative parties, the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09, formed an electoral alliance called Together. Led by Petr Fiala, the alliance launched its campaign on 9 December 2020, promising to reform tax, the social and pension system, and healthcare. Its proposals included a minimum pension, a simplification of social benefits, support for education, and better use of European Union funds, as well as a focus on climate change. It opposes "Czexit" and supports membership of NATO. Fiala said that he wants to create a functional and more comprehensible state instead of helplessness and false politics. TOP 09 leader Markéta Adamová described the alliance as a centre-right liberal conservative political force that has traditions at its heart but a modern view of the world.[31]

Chcípl PES

Initiative called Chcípl PES (The Dog died) organised anti-lockdown demonstrations during early 2021. Name refers to government Anti Epidemic sSystem known as PES. Chairman of Chcípl PES Jiří Janeček announced on 1 February 2021 that it will participate in the election on platform supporting Bussiness during COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic and opposition to lockdowns.[32]

Opinion polls
Main article: Opinion polling for the 2021 Czech legislative election
30 day moving trendline where each line corresponds to a political party.

References
  1. Poslanecka Snemovna: Electoral system IPU
  2. "Ústavní soud rozhodl o systému sněmovních voleb. Výsledek oznámí ve středu". iDNES.cz. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. "Ústavní soud zrušil část volebního zákona". www.novinky.cz. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. Zlámalová, Lenka (4 April 2019). "Souboj o přízeň tažných koní. ODS a Piráti se spolu přetahují o voliče všech generací". www.echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. ",Fiasko vládních stran.' Světová média si všímají vítězství ODS i porážky KSČM". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). 13 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  6. "Hnutí ANO vyhrálo v drtivé většině měst. Výjimkami jsou Praha a Liberec". echo24.cz (in Czech). 6 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  7. Gričová, Andrea (3 October 2020). "Krajské volby ovládlo ANO, vyhráno ale nemá. ČSSD a komunisté propadli". Deník.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  8. "Piráti jsou skokanem voleb. Za každou cenu vládnout nechceme, říká Bartoš". www.seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  9. "KOMENTÁŘ: ANO drží pozice i náskok, ale ztrácí spojence". iDNES.cz. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  10. "Volby do Senátu jsou sečteny. Debakl pro ANO a ČSSD, úspěch pro STAN". tn.nova.cz (in Czech). 10 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  11. Prima, F. T. V. "Námluvy pokročily. Jak se pečou koalice proti Babišovi do velkých voleb?". cnn.iprima.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  12. "Pravicové strany směřují k očekávané volební koalici. V úterý mají podepsat memorandum". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  13. "ODS, TOP 09 a KDU-ČSL půjdou do voleb společně. Chtějí je vyhrát". Česká televize. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. "Trojkoalice si rozdělila lídry. ODS 9, lidovci 3, topka 2". www.novinky.cz. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. "ODS, KDU-ČSL a TOP 09 jdou do voleb jako koalice SPOLU. Daly 17 slibů". www.seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  16. "Kandidát ODS, TOP 09 a KDU-ČSL na premiéra je Fiala, strany zachovají kluby". iDNES.cz. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  17. "STAN schválil zahájení vyjednávání s Piráty o koalici pro parlamentní volby". iDNES.cz. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  18. "Piráti zatím odmítají spolupráci se STAN. Bojí se zneužití - Novinky.cz". www.novinky.cz. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  19. "Piráti o koalici se STAN: Nechceme si konkurovat. Jasno bude koncem listopadu". Deník.cz (in Czech). 7 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  20. "Piráti začnou jednat o koalici se STAN. Členové dali zelenou v referendu". www.seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  21. "Bartoš míří na lídra koalice se STAN". www.novinky.cz. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  22. "Piráty povede do voleb Bartoš, potvrdili členové v referendu - Novinky.cz". www.novinky.cz. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  23. "Koalici Pirátů a STAN povede Bartoš. Chtějí spolu do vlády či opozice". iDNES.cz. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  24. "Piráti potvrdili koalici se STAN. Vyvedeme spolu zemi z krize, slíbil Bartoš". iDNES.cz. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  25. "Prezident Zeman vyhlásil termín sněmovních voleb. Budou druhý týden v říjnu". iDNES.cz. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  26. "Formuje se třetí blok proti Babišovi. ČSSD chystá vlastní koalici". www.seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  27. "Zelení si dali podmínku pro spolupráci s ČSSD. Nesmí vést k vládě s Babišem". iDNES.cz. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  28. "Minář chce půl milionu podpisů, aby jeho nové hnutí šlo do voleb". iDNES.cz. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  29. Šustr, Ladislav (27 December 2020). "Piráti a STAN mají smlouvu: EET se celé nezruší, ochrana klimatu, přijetí eura - Echo24.cz". echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  30. "Pirát Bartoš slíbil zotavení Česka po krizi kvůli covidu a Babišově vládě". iDNES.cz. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  31. "Jdeme do toho SPOLU, zní heslo ODS, lidovců a TOP 09 pro příští volby". iDNES.cz. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  32. "Chcípl PES půjde do voleb a chystá protestní valentýnské pochody". iDNES.cz. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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