The political framework of the Czech Republic

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Petr Pavel (since 8 March 2023) - Independent
Prime Minister: Petr Fiala (since 17 December 2021) - ODS

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2028
Senate: October 2024
Chamber of Deputies: October 2025

Current Political Context

2022 was the first year in charge for the new government led by Petr Fiala and formed by a five-party coalition formed by the conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the parties in the Together alliance (the Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) and Top 09), as well as the progressive Pirate Party and the centrist Mayors.
The year was characterized by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which led to a surge in the number of refugees: as of December 2022, the Czech Republic had granted temporary protection to nearly 470,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine, accounting for 4.4% of the total population. The country is also a member of NATO, and the government supported the EU sanctions against Russia while also providing military aid.
Presidential elections took place in January 2023. While incumbent president Miloš Zeman was not eligible to run due to the two-term limit, former army chief Petr Pavel won the presidential election after a campaign featuring strong backing for NATO and the European Union and support for aid to Ukraine.

Main Political Parties

Parties need to secure 5% of the vote in order to obtain parliamentary representation. The country's main political parties are:

• Civic Democratic Party (ODS): centre-right, supports economic liberalism; defends the principles of personal freedom and individual responsibility, entrepreneurship and private ownership
• Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU–ČSL): centre, draws its main support from rural areas
• ANO 2011: centre-right, populist
• TOP 09 (Tradition Responsibility Prosperity): centre-right, supports a free market and the European Union
• Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD): centre-left
• Czech Pirate Party (CSP): independent
• Senator 21: liberalism, pro-European
• Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD): right-wing
• Communist Party of Bohemia & Moravia (KSCM): left-wing
• Green Party (SZ): environmentalist
• Mayors and Independents (STAN): liberal
• Přísaha: populist, anti-corruption
• Party of Civic Rights (SPO): centre-left

Executive Power

The President is the chief of state and is elected by direct public vote for a five-year term. The President has limited specific powers, the most important of which are to return enacted laws to the Parliament and to dissolve the Parliament under specific constitutionally outlined conditions. The President appoints the Prime Minister and the Cabinet based on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds executive powers, including the right to set the agenda for most foreign policies and to choose governmental ministers. The Prime Minister is generally the head of the majority party or coalition in the Parliament and carries considerable political power.

Legislative Power

The legislature is bicameral. The Parliament consists of: the Senate (the upper house), its 81 members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms (with one-third of its members elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house) with its 200 members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The executive branch is dependent on parliamentary support. The Prime Minister cannot dissolve the parliament without the approval of both the President and the members of the Parliament.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

40/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

1/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House