2010 Czech parliamentary election

2010 Czech parliamentary election
← 2006 28–29 May 2010 2013 →
All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
101 seats needed for a majority
Turnout62.55% (Decrease 1.87pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jiří Paroubek Petr Nečas Karel Schwarzenberg
Party ČSSD ODS TOP 09
Last election 32.32%, 74 seats 35.38%, 81 seats Did not exist
Seats won 56 53 41
Seat change Decrease 18 Decrease 28 New
Popular vote 1,155,267 1,057,792 873,833
Percentage 22.09% 20.22% 16.71%
Swing Decrease 10.23pp Decrease 15.16pp New
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Vojtěch Filip Radek John
Party KSČM VV
Last election 12.81%, 26 seats Did not exist
Seats won 26 24
Seat change Steady New
Popular vote 589,765 569,127
Percentage 11.27% 10.88%
Swing Decrease 1.54pp New
Prime Minister before election

Jan Fischer
Independent

Prime Minister after election

Petr Nečas
ODS

Parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on 28–29 May 2010 to elect the 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies.[1] The elections had been expected to take place sometime before the end of 2009, but was postponed due to legal challenges.[2] Before the election, the country had been governed by a caretaker administration headed by Jan Fischer.[3] The Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) was the front-runner of the election and its leader Jiří Paroubek was the favourite to become the new prime minister.[4][5][6]

ČSSD came first in the election, although they suffered significant losses in seats and the popular vote.[7] The conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and TOP 09 followed in second and third, with the Communist Party finishing fourth. ČSSD leader Jiří Paroubek resigned after the election, conceding that a conservative coalition government appeared likely due to the rise in support for two new right-wing parties: TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV). In June, a centre-right coalition of ODS, TOP 09, and VV was formed, with Petr Nečas becoming the prime minister.

  1. ^ Willoughby, Ian (5 February 2010). "Czechs to go to polls in general elections on last weekend of May". Radio Prague. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Update 2-Czech leaders agree on cabinet, early election". Reuters. 5 April 2009.
  3. ^ Bilefsky, Dan (29 May 2010). "Left Wins Czech Vote, but Right Makes Gains". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Sázkové kanceláře mají jasno: premiérem bude Jiří Paroubek" (in Czech). Lidovky.cz. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Jak nevyhrál Paroubek a kdo po volbách řekl: Máte, co jste chtěli!". Expres.cz. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Měsíc do voleb: přišel pan Čistý, ale Buldozer si udržuje náskok". iDNES.cz. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Czech Republic voters move to right in general election". BBC News. 30 May 2010.