Czechs vote in parliamentary elections

After 14 months of a caretaker cabinet, Czech voters finally get the chance to elect a new prime minister.

Izvor: Deutsche Welle

Friday, 28.05.2010.

14:37

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After 14 months of a caretaker cabinet, Czech voters finally get the chance to elect a new prime minister. With majority government unlikely, the long-excluded Communist Party may have a role to play, Deutsche Welle reports. Czechs vote in parliamentary elections The Czech Republic goes to the polls on Friday and Saturday to elect a new government and prime minister. Jiri Paroubek and his center-left Social Democrats (CSSD) are front-runners, but look set to fall short of a majority, with recent polls suggesting they will gather around 30 percent of the vote. Polls put the center-right Civil Democrats (ODS) at around 19 percent in the election to the lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies. Another inconclusive election result could see a continuation of the weak governments which have prevented reform in recent years. The two leading parties' enduring rivalry and ideological disagreements make a grand coalition almost unthinkable. "Therefore the minor groups can capitalize on the disappointment of both major parties, to become kingmakers," said Prague political theorist Jiri Pehe. The Communists (KSCM) and new populist groups TOP 09 and Public Affairs, all competing for third place in the popular vote, are potential coalition partners. The Czech Republic has had 14 months of interim government, with a neutral cabinet headed by Prime Minister Jan Fischer. The previous center-right coalition led by the ODS collapsed half-way through Czech presidency of the EU.

Czechs vote in parliamentary elections

The Czech Republic goes to the polls on Friday and Saturday to elect a new government and prime minister.

Jiri Paroubek and his center-left Social Democrats (CSSD) are front-runners, but look set to fall short of a majority, with recent polls suggesting they will gather around 30 percent of the vote.

Polls put the center-right Civil Democrats (ODS) at around 19 percent in the election to the lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies.

Another inconclusive election result could see a continuation of the weak governments which have prevented reform in recent years. The two leading parties' enduring rivalry and ideological disagreements make a grand coalition almost unthinkable.

"Therefore the minor groups can capitalize on the disappointment of both major parties, to become kingmakers," said Prague political theorist Jiri Pehe.

The Communists (KSCM) and new populist groups TOP 09 and Public Affairs, all competing for third place in the popular vote, are potential coalition partners.

The Czech Republic has had 14 months of interim government, with a neutral cabinet headed by Prime Minister Jan Fischer. The previous center-right coalition led by the ODS collapsed half-way through Czech presidency of the EU.

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