Elections 2002

Vaclav Havel and new Czech government, photo:CTK

Distribution of seats in the House of Deputies:
Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD): 70
Civic Democratic Party (ODS): 58
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM): 41
Coalition: 31

Results of elections to the Chamber of deputies (%). Chart: CTK.

General election turnout 1990 - 2002. Chart: CTK.

A public opinion poll on whether the 2002 parlamentary elections will directly influence people's lifes: will the election results influence your life? Partially 27,6%, radically 6,8%, not at all 46,4%, don't know 19,2%. Chart: CTK.

Latest news from Radio Prague:



	7.8.2002	Government awaiting parliamentary vote of confidence

	31.7.2002	Government programme not ready until Monday

	29.7.2002	Poll: a third of Czechs happy with election results

	18.7.2002	Lower house elects new leadership

	18.7.2002	New ministers reveal strategic goals

	16.7.2002	Poll: Money most important factor in choosing to go on to higher education

	16.7.2002	Two more candidates prevail in parliament deputy leader bids

	16.7.2002	Poll: Low turnout due to public disgust with politics

	16.7.2002	Civic Democrats mull over worst defeat in party history

	15.7.2002	President Havel appoints new cabinet

	15.7.2002	Civic Democrats to form a shadow cabinet by end of September
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Results of Radio Prague virtual elections

Party profiles
Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	Civic Democratic Party (ODS)	US-DEU: The Freedom Union - Democratic Union	KDU-CSL: Christian Democratic Union	KSCM: The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia

Other parties

Electoral system

Background Information

Elections to the Chamber of Deputies were held on 14th-15th June 2002. Polls closed at 14:00 on Saturday 15th June.

The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Czech Parliament with 200 members, elected to a four-year term of office under a proportional voting system. Unlike the Senate, it can be dissolved in the course of an electoral term, leading to early elections. This is the Czech Republic's main legislative body. The June elections were held at the end of the current parliament's four-year mandate.

Later this year there will also be elections to the upper house, the Senate, which has 81 members, one third of whom come up for election every two years. Senators are elected by a simple majority system in 81 constituencies. The Senate can return bills to the lower house, but neither the Senate nor the President has a final power of veto. The next round of elections to the Senate is due in October 2002.

The President is elected to a five-year term of office by both chambers of the Czech Parliament. President Vaclav Havel's second and final term ends at the beginning of 2003.