2009 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic
← 2004 5–6 June 2009 2014 →
22 seats in the European Parliament
Turnout28.32%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Jan Zahradil Jiří Havel
Party ODS ČSSD
Alliance AECR PES
Seats won 9 7
Seat change Steady Increase 5
Popular vote 741,946 528,132
Percentage 31.45% 22.39%
Swing Increase 1.40pp Increase 13.61pp
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Miloslav Ransdorf Zuzana Roithová
Party KSČM KDU-ČSL
Alliance GUE/NGL EPP
Seats won 4 2
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady
Popular vote 334,577 180,451
Percentage 14.18% 7.65%
Swing Decrease6.09pp Decrease1.93pp
Result by district (ODS Blue, ČSSD orange)

The 2009 European Parliament election in Czech Republic was the election of the delegation from Czech Republic to the European Parliament in 2009. The Civic Democratic Party has won the election with a surprisingly strong lead against the Czech Social Democratic Party. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia came third and the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party became the last party to enter the Parliament.[1]

Two newly founded right-wing parties, the Czech wing Libertas.cz of Declan Ganley's Libertas founded by Vladimír Železný and the Party of Free Citizens, ran in the election.[2]

Background

Previous election was held in 2004. It was won by the Civic Democratic Party that won 30% of votes ahead of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia which received 20% of the votes. Czech Social Democratic Party of Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla was heavily defeated receiving only 9% of votes finishing fourth.[3] Špidle resigned after the election.[4]

Civic Democrats joined European People's Party group after the election as a member of European Democrats.[5] ODS the cooperated with British Conservative Party to establish new Eurosceptic faction within European Parliament.[6]

2004 Seats

Party EP Group Seats
ODS EPP-ED 9
KSČM GUE-NGL 6
SNK ED EPP-ED 3
ČSSD S&D 2
KDU-ČSL EPP-ED 2
NEZÁVISLÍ IND/DEM 2

Procedure

The 22 of Czech delegation in the European parliament are elected using open list proportional representation, in which they can give preferential votes for up to two candidates on their chosen list. Seats are allocated using the d'Hondt method, with an electoral threshold of 5% nationwide for single parties. Candidates who receive preferential votes from more than 5% of voters are moved to the top of their list, and in cases where more than one candidate receives over 5% of the preferential votes, they are ranked in order of votes received.

Campaign

Politician rallyes in the central part of Prague few days before elections of European Parliament for 2009–2013 term

Civic Democratic Party

First candidates were introduced on 9 February 2009. Jan Zahradil became electoral leader. Other candidates included Evžen Tošenovský, Oldřich Vlasák etg. Party also launched its election website on the same day. Zahradil stated that ODS will be forced to use negative campaign as reaction to strateg of its opponents.[7] Remaining candidates were introduced on 16 March 2009.[8]

Campaign of Civic Democratic Party (ODS) was launched by electoral leader Jan Zahradil on 13 February 2009.[9] ODS stated that it would invest 40 million CZK to the campaign.[10]

ODS started negative campaign against ČSSD as response to Social Democratic campaigns from previous years.[7][11] Civic Democrats founded Blue Team to help the party with campaign.

The Civic Democratic Party was active on internet and used social media during its campaign while its main rival and election front-runner Social Democratic Party underestimated internet campaign and Civic Democrats got to lead as a result.[12]

Czech Social Democratic Party

ČSSD planned to invest 30 million CZK.[13] Czech Social Democratic Party was led by Jiří Havel. Party decided to focus on Financial crisis and domestic issues during its campaign.[13] Social Democratic Party was considered front-runner as it was leading in polls but the lead narrowed as the election date was getting closer. The Civic Democratic Party was active on internet and used social media during its campaign and eventually. Social Democrats on the other hand underestimated internet campaign and Civic Democrats got to lead as a result.[14]

Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia

Miloslav Ransdorf was announced as electoral leader on 18 September 2008.[15]

Christian and Democratic Union – People's Party

Christian Democrats launched election campaign on 9 March 2009.[16] They introduced their candidates on 20 March 2009.[17]

Green Party

Greens voted Jan Dusík as its electoral leader on 28 February 2009.[18]

EP list leaders

Campaign Finances

Party ČSSD ODS KSČM KDU-ČSL
Money Spent[19] 60,000,000 Kč 40,000,000 Kč 17,000,000 Kč 2,500,000 Kč

Debates

2009 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic debates
Date Organisers  P  Present   A  Absent  
ODS ČSSD KSČM KDU–ČSL
2 June Česká televize[20] P
Jan Zahradil 		P
Jiří Havel 		P
Miloslav Ransdorf 		P
Zuzana Roithová

Opinion polls

Polling Firm Date ODS KSČM KDU–ČSL ČSSD SZ STAN Others Undecided
CVVM[21] 2 – 9 March 2009 31% 12.5% 5% 29% 6.5% — 3% 13%
STEM[22] 12–13 March 2009 23% 10% — 30% — — — —
CVVM[23] 30 March – 6 April 2009 26% 13% 6% 28% 5.5% — 4.5% 17%
STEM[24] 21 April 2009 27.6% 14.5% 6.6% 30.3% 6.6% 5.3% 9.1% —
STEM[25] 5 May 2009 25% 11.4% 7.2% 30.9% 6% N.A.% 6.4% 13.1%
CVVM[26] 4–11 May 2009 33.0% 13.5% 5.5% 25.5% 5.0% — 6.5% 10.0%
STEM[27] 5–12 May 2009 20.9% 8.9% 5.5% 24.2% 3.1% N.A.% 11.9% 25.5%
CVVM[28] 25 May 2009 36.5% 15.5% 6.5% 28.0% 5.5% N.A.% 8%
UPOL[29] 25 May 2009 29.1% 14.8% 5.5% 29.8% 2.9% 3.3% 3.5%
STEM/SC&C[30] 26 May 2009 31.0% 13.0% 8.0% 27.0% 4.0% 2.0% 15.0%
Election 5 June 2009 31.5% 14.2% 7.6% 22.4% 2.1% 2.3% 19.9% 0%

Media survey

Survey Date ODS SSO DSSS KDU-ČSL DSZ STAN SNK-ED< ČSSD Others
iDnes[31][32] 4 May 2009 24.5 17.2 6.0 4.5 4.3 4.1 2.4 2.3

Results

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) has won the election with 30% and 9 seats. Party's chairman Mirek Topolánek stated that the election showed that ODS is once again an equal rival to Social Democrats. Czech Social Democratic Party finished second with 22% of votes and 6 seats. Party was dissatisfied with the result as it expected a better result. Chairman Jiří Paroubek stated that party was damaged by low turnout but noted that it is improvement as the party received only 8.8% in 2004 election. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia considered the result as an improvement from 2006 parliamentary election. KDU-ČSL was pleased with the result as the party showed stable support. Other parties failed to reach 5% threshold. Green Party received only 2% of votes. Chairman Martin Bursík decided to resign as a result. Czech Sovereignty led by MEP Jana Bobošíková received 4% and narrowly failed to win any seats.[33]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Civic Democratic Party741,94631.4590
Czech Social Democratic Party528,13222.397+5
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia334,57714.184–2
KDU-ČSL180,4517.6520
Sovereignty100,5144.260New
European Democratic Party68,1522.890New
Public Affairs56,6362.400New
Mayors and Independents – Your Option53,9842.290New
Green Party48,6212.0600
SNK European Democrats39,1661.660–3
Party of Free Citizens29,8461.270New
Workers' Party25,3681.0800
Right Bloc23,6121.0000
Libertas.cz22,2430.940New
Party for Dignified Life17,0610.720New
Democratic Party of Greens14,7610.630New
Independents12,8240.540–2
Moravané9,0860.390New
SPR-RSČ7,4920.3200
Nejen hasiči a živnostníci s učiteli do Evropy6,9040.290New
National Party6,2630.270New
Humanist Party4,5840.1900
Freeholder Party of the Czech Republic4,5440.190New
Koruna Česká4,4490.1900
Greens3,7170.160New
Balbín's Poetic Party3,7110.1600
Czech National Socialist Party3,2690.140New
Liberals.cz1,7750.080New
United Democrats – Association of Independents1,5010.060New
Party of Free Democrats1,4230.060New
Democracy and Freedom Party9860.040New
Czech National Social Party7910.030New
People and Politics5450.020New
Total2,358,934100.0022–2
Valid votes2,358,93499.49
Invalid/blank votes12,0750.51
Total votes2,371,009100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,401,37428.22
Source: Volby

European groups

PartySeats+/–
European Conservatives and Reformists9New
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats7+5
European United Left–Nordic Green Left4–2
European People's Party2–12
Independence/Democracy0–2
Total22–2

Elected MEPs

Num MEP Sex Party EP Group Period Pref. Votes
1. Evžen Tošenovský Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 104,737
2. Jan Zahradil Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 65,731
3. Miloslav Ransdorf Male KSČM GUE-NGL 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 61,453
4. Jiří Havel Male ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 8 July 2012 59,818
5. Zuzana Roithová Female KDU–ČSL EPP 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 52,503
6. Richard Falbr Male ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 44,703
7. Vladimír Remek Male KSČM GUE-NGL 14 July 2009 – 15 December 2013 40,650
8. Jan Březina Male KDU–ČSL EPP 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 23,154
9. Libor Rouček Male ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 19,771
10. Hynek Fajmon Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 16,041
11. Andrea Češková Female ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 14,477
12. Oldřich Vlasák Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 11,744
13. Edvard Kožušník Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 11,567
14. Miroslav Ouzký Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 9,869
15. Olga Sehnalová Female ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 9,386
16. Jiří Maštálka Male KSČM GUE-NGL 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 8,181
17. Zuzana Brzobohatá Female ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 7,736
18. Milan Cabrnoch Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 7,143
19. Ivo Strejček Male ODS ECR 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 6,071
20. Jaromír Kohlíček Male KSČM GUE-NGL 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 5,719
21. Pavel Poc Male ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 4,814
22. Robert Dušek Male ČSSD S&D 14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014 4,042
Source:[34]

References

  1. ^ Karásek, Pavel (2011). Volby do Evropského parlamentu v České republice v roce 2009 [Elections to the European Parliament in the Czech Republic in 2009] (PDF) (in Czech). Brno: Masaryk University. p. 58. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  2. ^ "EurActiv.com - Two Czech eurosceptic parties to run in EU elections". Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  3. ^ "Rozhodnuto: Špidla drtivě prohrál". iDNES.cz. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Vladimír Špidla rezignoval na post předsedy ČSSD i vlády; kabinet podá demisi". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. ^ "ODS a její místo v evropském parlamentu". Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (in Czech). 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ Europeanised defiance : Czech Euroscepticism since 2004. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-3-8474-2092-7.
  7. ^ a b "ODS mění styl, pro evropské volby chystá i negativní kampaň". iDNES.cz. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. ^ "ODS uzavřela eurokandidátku, členové kritizovali její vznik". iDNES.cz. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. ^ "ODS zvedne hozenou rukavici a také nasadí negativní kampaň". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  10. ^ "ODS za evropskou kampaň utratí 40 milionů" [ODS spends 40 million for the European campaign]. TÝDEN.cz (in Czech). 22 January 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ^ "ODS se poučila z krajských voleb, v kampani zaútočí na Paroubka". iDNES.cz. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  12. ^ Karásek, Pavel (2011). Volby do Evropského parlamentu v České republice v roce 2009 [Elections to the European Parliament in the Czech Republic in 2009] (PDF) (in Czech). Brno: Masaryk University. pp. 59–60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  13. ^ a b "ČSSD chystá eurokampaň za třicet milionů" [The CSSD is preparing a euro-campaign for thirty million]. TÝDEN.cz (in Czech). 20 January 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  14. ^ Karásek, Pavel (2011). Volby do Evropského parlamentu v České republice v roce 2009 [Elections to the European Parliament in the Czech Republic in 2009] (PDF) (in Czech). Brno: Masaryk University. pp. 59–60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Do evropských voleb vyšlou komunisté Ransdorfa a Remka". ČT24 (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Vydělejte na svém plotu, lidovci rozjíždějí předvolební kampaň". iDNES.cz. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Lidovci představili kandidátku do eurovoleb, třetinu tvoří ženy". iDNES.cz. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Lídr zelených do eurovoleb je Dusík. Hádky pokračují". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). 28 February 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Kampaň ČSSD se výrazně prodražila, stranu stála 60 miliónů". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Diváci na europoslance bučeli, Zahradil a Havel se obviňovali z nedospělosti". iDNES.cz. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  21. ^ "K volbám do Evropského parlamentu". Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění (in Czech). Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  22. ^ "ČSSD má nový průzkum. V eurovolbách porazíme ODS, říká". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). 14 March 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  23. ^ "K volbám do Evropského parlamentu". Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění (in Czech). Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Evropské volby "STAROSTOVÉ A NEZÁVISLÍ – VAŠE ALTERNATIVA" Volby do Evropského parlamentu 2009". Starostove-alternativa.cz. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  25. ^ "Exkluzivní průzkum: Eurovolby by vyhrála ČSSD s náskokem šesti procent". ČT24. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  26. ^ "K volbám do Evropského parlamentu". Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění (in Czech). Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  27. ^ "STEM – PREFERENCE POLITICKÝCH STRAN PRO VOLBY DO EVROPSKÉHO PARLAMENTU" (PDF). STEM. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  28. ^ "CVVM: Eurovolby by vyhrála ODS, socialisté mají o 8,5 procenta méně". iDNES.cz. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Průzkum: Zelení v eurovolbách nezískají ani 3 procenta". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). 25 May 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  30. ^ "STEM a SC&C pro ČT: Evropské volby by vyhrála ODS, zelení by neprošli". ČT24 (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Eurovolby na iDNES.cz vyhrála ODS, druzí skončili Svobodní". iDNES.cz. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Zprávy iDNES.cz – Přehled nejnovějších událostí z domova i ze světa". iDNES.cz. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Eurovolby v Česku vyhrála ODS s náskokem před ČSSD". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Jmenné seznamy". volby.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 17 April 2018.

External links

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