Civic Democratic Alliance

The Civic Democratic Alliance (Czech: Občanská demokratická aliance, ODA) was a conservative-liberal[2][3] political party in the Czech Republic, active between 1989 (founded shortly after the Velvet revolution) and 2007. The ODA was part of government coalitions until 1997 and participated in transformation of the Czech economy. The party was supported by president Václav Havel who voted for it in 1992 and 1996 election.[4]

Not to be confused with Civic Democratic Alliance (2016).
Civic Democratic Alliance

Občanská demokratická aliance
Founded5 March 1990
Dissolved13 July 2007
Preceded byCivic Forum
HeadquartersU Společenské zahrady 6 140 00 Prague 4
NewspaperZpravodaj
Youth wingConservative Club of Young
Membership (2007)300[1]
IdeologyConservative liberalism
Political positionCentre-right
European affiliationEuropean Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
ColoursBlue
Czech Republic
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History

The ODA was established in 1989 by a group of intellectuals as a conservative-liberal party, based on ideas often expressed in The Salisbury Review. The other motive was personal antipathy to Václav Klaus and his party Civic Democratic Party (ODS).

In 1992 legislative election, ODA obtained over 300,000 votes (5,93 per cent of all votes) and gained 14 seats in Czech National Council. It became part of right-wing coalition (First government of Václav Klaus) together with the ODS, Christian and Democratic Union (KDU–ČSL) and Christian Democratic Party (KDS).

In 1996 legislative election, the ODA obtained 6.36 per cent of votes and again formed coalition with the ODS and KDU–ČSL (the second government of Václav Klaus). However, this government didn't manage to form majority in the Chamber of Deputies and so was depending on toleration of the centre-left Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) (government disposed of 99 deputies out of 200, social democrats of 61 deputies and non-system parties of 40 deputies). Following financial scandals of the ODS, the coalition fell apart. Both the ODS and KDU-ČSL participated in caretaker government of Josef Tošovský.

It didn't participate in 1998 legislative election, in order "to not split votes on the right-wing". The ODA formed the Four-Coalition with the KDU–ČSL, Freedom Union and Democratic Union in opposition to the grand coalition of the centre-right ODS and centre-left ČSSD. However, the ODA became the coalition's weakest member, and after its funding problems came to light, it ceased to take part in the Czech political scene. It only had one senator, Karel Schwarzenberg (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic since 2007). The party ceased activity on 31 December 2007.

Czech billionaire Pavel Sehnal announced in December 2016 that he established a new Civic Democratic Alliance. Leaders of the original ODA weren't involved with the new party.[5]

Election results

Chamber of Deputies
Year Vote Vote % Seats Place Govt?
1990 ... ...
11 / 200
[6]		 6th Yes
1992 383,705 5.93%
14 / 200
 7th Yes
1996 385,369 6.36%
13 / 200
 6th Yes
1998 did not contest ... ... ... No
2002 24,278 0.5%
0 / 200
 13th No

Seats in the Chamber of Deputies

Senate
Year Seats
1996
7 / 81
1998
4 / 27
2000
1 / 27
2002
0 / 27
2004
1 / 27
2006
0 / 27

Seats in the Senate

Presidential
Indirect Election Candidate First round result Second round result Third round result
Votes %Votes Result Votes %Votes Result Votes %Votes Result
1993 Václav Havel 109 63.37 Won —
1998 Václav Havel 130 70.65 Runner-up 146 52.3 Won —

European Parliament
Year Vote Vote % Seats
2004 39 655 1.69% 0

Leaders

See also

References
  1. "Výslech předsedkyně ODA - On-line rozhovor - iDNES.cz". Lidovky.cz. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  2. Hans Slomp (2000). European Politics Into the Twenty-first Century: Integration and Division. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-275-96800-7.
  3. Tadeusz Buksiński (2009). Democracy in Western and Postcommunist Countries: Twenty Years After the Fall of Communism. Peter Lang. p. 240. ISBN 978-3-631-58543-6.
  4. "Před 25 lety vznikla strana ODA. Vzpomínáte na Kalvodu, Dlouhého, Žantovského?". www.parlamentnilisty.cz. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  5. "Miliardář Sehnal obnovuje ODA. Kdysi slavná značka se vrací - Seznam Zprávy". www.seznam.cz. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  6. elected as candidates of Civic Forum
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