Vicious circle
On the path of our depression we must come back into the days before. The elections to the Council of deputies which were very important for the future direction of our country were won by Civic Democratic Party (ODS) which is right oriented. Second were Social democrats (CSSD) and third Communists party (KSCM). On the fourth place were Christian Democratic Party (KDU) and fifth ended Greens.
Our council of deputies has 200 seats and votes have brought deadlock. The election ended with a draw 100 for the right (ODS, KDU a Greens) and 100 seats for the left (CSSD, KSCM).
And they haven't been able to close a deal. Winner of the election - ODS and their leader Mirek Topolanek had a problem with setting together the new Cabinet which would get enough votes to be able to govern. It means that more than 50 percent of deputies in the Chamber saying Yes was required.
But one vote was missing. Mirek Topolanek made the coalition with Greens and KDU because the parties have similar political ideas, but the lefts were blocking right oriented Cabinet.
In fact most people blame a leader of CSSD Jiri Paroubek because he didn’t want to let this coalition pass by no means. There are some ways how to get off this depression. For example new election or great coalition of ODS and CSSD- but this option is so much unlike because of different views of many problems. But it’s clear that our country needs many reforms for example of health care system, justice and mainly fiscal reform. Private skirmishes should go off for the goodness of our state. They should make any radical decision which would stop this depression. It’s in their hands and only they have responsibility for that. I hope they wouldn’t prefer their ego to well-being of all country.
Vojta Rygl
Czech political system
Independence: 1st January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8th May; Founding of the Republic, 28th October
Constitution: ratified 16th December 1992; effective 1st January 1993
Chief of state: President Vaclav Klaus
Head of government: Prime Minister Miroslav Topolanek
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Elections: President elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held January 2003, Prime Minister appointed by the President
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlament) consists of the Senate (Senát) - 81 seats, and the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká Sněmovna) - 200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Senate – last held October 2006; Chamber of Deputies last held to be held by NA June 2002)
Election results:
• Senate - seats by party - CSSD 12, ODS 41, KDU-CSL 11, KCSM 2, the others 15
• Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 81, KDU-CSL 13, Green’s 6, KCSM 26
Political parties: Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People’s Party or KDU-CSL [Jan Kasal]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Miroslav Topolanek, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech Filip, chairman]; Czech Social Democrats or CSSD [Jiri Paroubek, chairman]
Now we have a political draw because the election has ended with a stalemate. Half votes for the right and half for the left. And the politicians aren’t able to make an agreement. Nobody knows when will be the end of this crises but it depends on politicians and their good will. They have to cut their private disputes and start to solve real problems in our republic.