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An election to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic took place on 2 June and 3 June 2006. The pre-election campaign was fierce and mostly negative. A major scandal broke out few days before the election. The two largest parties had profited from the divisive campaign - both had obtained the highest percentage of votes ever. Turnout of otherwise apathetic Czech voters was increased, compared to previous parliament election. The election has produced an evenly balanced result. One potential coalition -- the Civic Democratics (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and Greens (SZ) -- took 100 seats, exactly half. The Social Democrats (ČSSD) and Communists (KSČM) comprised the other half of the chamber, making the possibility of a minority Social Democratic government supported by the Communists equally problematic. This suggests that forming a stable government that will last four years will be difficult. As of July 2006 there has been no progress in forming the new government and possibility of fresh election is growing. Pre-election scandal Couple of weeks before the election police officer Jan Kubice, head of the squad for uncovering organised crime, hinted that highest members of police and the government are trying to cover up their cooperation with organised crime. He was summoned before parliament commission few days before the election where he presented a document; contents of the document immediately leaked out. The document suggested that former prime minister Stanislav Gross had a connection with criminal underground and hinted that current prime minister Jiří Paroubek is indirectly involved in a murder, deals with mafia and is pedophile. It also contained information about minor officials, some already imprisoned for suspicions of bribery. Paroubek and the others had denied these claims and accused the opposition (ODS) of manufacturing the scandal to avoid election failure. After the election Paroubek said that the the scandal cost his party (ČSSD) victory and that democracy is in as much danger as in 1948 (when the Communists seized power). Initially, he planned to challenge the election result. Chamber of Deputies The Chamber of Deputies consists of 200 members elected for a four year term. Seats are allocated by proportional representation amongst those lists which have gained at least 5% of the national total of valid votes cast. Party lists are presented in 14 regions. Votes are cast for a list but voters are allowed up to two preference votes for candidates on that list. The Czech Republic has a parliamentary system of government, with ministers being responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber is the most powerful organ of the state with power to override vetoes by the President and the Senate. Results The election produced a deadlock, leaving the all the coalitions which were considered likely before the election (Civic Democrats (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and Greens (SZ); Social Democrats (ČSSD) and Communists (KSČM); Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Greens) with less than the 101 votes necessary to pass legislation or to sustain the required confidence vote for the new cabinet in the Chamber of Deputies (100, 100 and 93 votes, respectively). Possibilities at this point include a highly improbable grand coalition of the Civic Democrats and Social Democrats, which would command a powerful majority, adding up to 155 seats against 45; a minority cabinet of either of the 100-vote coalitions, which would have to be at least partly negotiated with the would-be opposition to get the majority required to approve it and pass any legislation; or a new call for fresh elections. On 26 June, ODS, KDU-ČSL and SZ announced, that they have agreed on a coalition. Their government is expected to have 16 ministers: 10 from ODS, 3 from KDU-ČSL and 3 from SZ. The coalition hoped to get the missing vote from ČSSD deputies. ČSSD, on the other hand, suggested to elect a temporary government until, new, premature election is hold. As of July 2006, the election of the chairman of the parliament is not concluded, blocking installation and then vote of confidence for the new government. Major parties politicians had hinted the possibility to repeat the election, earliest on Autumn 2006. Voices suggesting that the switch to a majority representation is a way to avoid deadlocks like current one had appeared. Prague Central Bohemian Region South Bohemian Region Plzeň Region Carlsbad Region Ústí nad Labem Region Liberec Region Hradec Králové Region Pardubice Region Vysočina Region South Moravian Region Olomouc Region Zlín Region Moravian-Silesian Region Results of the previous election | |||||||
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