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6/1/1992 - Elections ’92: A post-Mortem Guide. by Dagmar Obereigner

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS DO Kafkova Praha Czechoslovakia Tel ELECTIONS A POST MORTEM GUIDE June Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs W Wheelock St Hanover NH 03755 Dear Peter friends By receive happened Czechoslovakia parliamentary elections The following information about process players serve historical artifact sorts guide sense continuing developments reported press THE RULES FOUR YEAR TERMS Representatives federal republican parliaments elected terms The outgoing representatives office years though The first elections since June At government officials correctly predicted political scene would continue change crystallize Based thought would politically prudent elections early years President Havel called government government national sacrifice The president normally years WHO VOTES Czechoslovak citizens could votes There absentee ballots Everyone country physically ballot WHAT THEY VOTE FOR Voters elect political parties individual candidates three parliaments The newly elected deputies elect president Cabinets federal Parliament president Dagmar Obereigner Institute fellow studying political social change Czechoslovakia Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about internation areas issues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations other officials The number seats parties receive parliaments corresponds number votes To office party movement earned percent total votes higher percentages needed coalitions parties From envelopes containing ballots parties running voters picked three chambers federal Parliament House Nations House People third either Czech Slovak National Council parliaments republics depending where The parliaments makeup I The Czech National Council members The Slovak National Council members Federal Parliament total members House Nations seats Czech Republic seats Slovak Repub House People seats The Czech Slovak republics represented proportionally chamber based their populations about million respectively The Czech Republic seats Slovak Repubiic NOTE Important three fifths majority House People House Nations chambers Slovaks House Nations years block legislation PREFERENTIAL VOTES Although people individual candidates could circle preferential votes candidates their three party ballots Candidates preferential votes after meeting minimum percentage requirements qualify category moved their party slates When votes counted seats doled candidates their party ticket first assigned seats If voters happened circle ticket preferential votes ignored overall party votes count Candidates necessarily districts where Parties assign candidates strategically putting popular personalities areas where stand large number votes problematic areas example Drawings Vladimr Jiraek Fromfarawayhelookedlikeanidiot buthe savoter WHEN THEY VOTED The polls Friday Saturday People brought their candidate lists polling place where received envelope They stepped behind screen circled their preferential votes their ballots envelope sealed They slipped sealed Election workers brought ballot boxes homes handicapped elderly voters unable polls CAMPAIGN FINANCING Parties financed their campaigns through membership donations loans money elctions If percent total votes their republic receive crowns about cents federal budget every received federal Parliament Funds reimbursements National Council campaigns republics budgets THE ELECTION LAW The election campaign May through June All canpaign activity hours before polls opened Releasing results public opinion polls cease before elections Each party allotted equal amount advertising state television during campaign Television first interpreted election severely curtail coverage campaign presenting election speeches election programs publicizing anything which parties promoted themselves Television anchors initially apologized viewers could provide coverage debates campaign television became braver interpretation As result several complaints against television chief filed THE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES The short campaign short substance Most campaign activity consisted happenings bands balloons children goulash There campaign literature buttons posters plastic shopping T shirts Candidates faces plastered billboards shelters sides escalator stairs Prague Metro For parties written campaign programs voters usually campaign headquarters neighborhood campaign centers Most major newsPapers nationwide circulation running election public opinion polls party candidate profiles other lection related stories every Most parties advantage their allotted TV promotional spots ranging hokey cartoons slick productions created advertisin agencies They included endorsement Margaret Thatcher conservative economist Vclav Klaus federal finance minister chairman right Civic Democratic Party ODA Civic Democratic Alliance excerpt Ode Joy campaign music Miroslav Sldek eerie leader extremist Republican Party struggling named Republican while spoke camera commercial Friends Beer party consisted fellow guitar singing Slovak nationalists rousing music pictures their Tatra Mountains fluttering Slovak flags There scenic shots Prague castle without candidates foreground And there balloons candidates mothers worried about environment It seemed there would campaign debates newspaper Lidov6 Noviny managed quickly organize panel discussions Mo major parties represented This major opportunity voters candidates another HOW IT TURNED OUT PERCENTAGE WHO VOTED There about million registered voters Czechoslovakia about million Czech Republic million Slovakia Of those percent about million voted Czech Republic percent million Slovakia total million people In there percent turnout nationwide Vote thoughtfully deliberation above NUMBER OF PARTIES MOVEMENTS AND COALITIONS Not represented parliament however THE BIG WINNERS Most votes Czech Republic Civic Democratic Party Christian Democratic Party coalition Slovak Republic winner former Slovak Prime Minister Vladimr Meiar Movement Democratic Slovakia The Communists running Democratic Left Left Bloc second Czech Republic The Party Democratic Left finished second Slovakia civic FORUm The electorate polarized In elections confidence Civic Forum Slovak sister organization Public Against Violence Those groups represented popular dissidents other personalities formed umbrella movement credited wresting power Communists They embodied Velvet Revolution Civic Forum swept elections percent federal Parliament seats Czech Republic Public Against Violence percent votes republic Civic Forum later split three right Civic Democratic Party ODS Civic Democratic Alliance ODA Civic Movement OH center orientation Public Against Violence broke Some members joined nationalistic Movement Democrati Slovakia HZDS Others formed reform minded right Civic Democratic Union ODU Note right country means believing strength individual minimal state intervention market Leftist parties favor bigger state slower reform You descendants Civic Forum lists winners below With exception Klaus ODS barely ODA percent requirements office Here rundown winning parties percentage votes received number seats captured elections CZECH NATIONAL COUNCIL seats Civic Democratic Party Christian Democratic Party percent seats Left Bloc Czechoslovak Social Democracy Liberal Social Union Christian Democratic Union Czechoslovak People Party Association Republic Republican Party Czech oslovakia Civic Democratic Alliance Movement Self Governed Democracy Society Moravia Silesia The Greens Agrarian Party Czechoslovak Socialist Party Classified movement elections SLOVAK NATIONAL COUNCIL seats I Movement Democratic Slovakia Party Democratic Left Christian Democratic Movement Slovak National Party Hungarian Coalition Coexistence Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement Hungarian People Party FEDERAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF NATIONS CZECH REPUBLIC seats Civic Democratic Party Christian Democratic Party Left Bloc Czechoslovak Social Democracy Christian Democratic Union Czechoslovak People Party Association Republic Republican Party Czechoslovakia Liberal Social Union SLOVAK REPUBLIC seats Movement Democratic Slovakia Party Democratic Left Slovak National Party Christian Democratic Movement Hungarian Coalition Social Democratic Party Slovakia FEDERAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE CZECH REPUBLIC seats I Civic Democratic Party Christian Democratic Party Left Bloc Czechoslovak Social Democracy Association Republic Republican Party Czechoslovakia Christian Democratic Union Czechoslovak People Party Liberal Social Union SLOVAK REPUBLIC seats I Movement Democratic Slovakia Party Democratic Left Slovak National Paty Christian Democratic Movement Hungarian Coalition PARTY PROFILES Here brief descriptions ersonal observations about winners elections CZECH REPUBLIC CIVIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY ODS CZ4RISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY KDS The ODS calling itself right conservative proponent radical economic transformation market economy including price liberalization quick privatization Emphasizes individual source economic activity Favors gradual removal Controls public sector place inflation Its chairman controversial Vclav Klaus federal finance minister authors reform Often called arrogant intolerant promoting praised economists around world cursed those having tighten their belts Klaus raised prices KDS smaller partner right party traditional Christian emphasis This coalition campaign nationwide ODS supports working federation LEFT BLOC LB This basically Communist Party Bohemia Moravia which calls itself modern leftist party supports political pluralism It promotes greater state involvement economy general running country The state Should revive market renew investments During campaign every current economic reform program continues disastrous country It would coupon privatization method being transfer ownership industry private hands would protect investors The Left Bloc favors various kinds ownership including ESOPs employee stock ownership plans It budget deficit source funding ambitious program lower taxes higher wages industry afraid inflation In trying ideology Communist Party chairman Jir Svoboda doesn blush wants prosperity instead which accuses ODS CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIAL DEMOCRACY CSSD Describes itself center Its campaign leader former Communist economist Valtr Komrek Klaus worked state Prognostic Institute before revolution Komgrek joined Civic Forum coordinator economic reform quickly broke Klaus vision advocating slower reform state intervention CSSD wants reform without unnecessarily drastic consequences Like Communists favors variety forms privatization CHRI STIAN AND DEMOCRATIC UNION CZEOSLOVAK PEOPLE S PARTY KDU CSL Right center Advocates social market economics which combines freedom individual market economy DO Introduoe yourselves Vasek Kabourek ODA Riha Jan ODS Nja Maro OH social moral responsibilities Talks about social trampoline social programs designed bouncing people active public works projects Backs nation state arrangement country government president Parliament ASSOCTION FOR THE REPUBLIC REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA SPR RSC This party calling revolution planned It calls itself right strategy knock whoever power playing people discontent offering simplistic solutions their problems Party leader Miroslav Sldek former government censor frightening demagogue For years waged against Communists power saying should thrown Vltava River ranting about totalitarianism right His campaign speeches peppered cheap insults sparing President Havel He calls gypsies racist compares children should ruled His bodyguards attack journalists His supporters young secondary school education The Republicans election program includes breaks entrepreneurs young families higher wages pensions maternity leaves ending compulsory military service He wants Sub Carpathian Ruthenia establish nation state arrangement remove former Communists politics lower salaries ministers parliament members percent LIBERAL SOCIAL UNION LSU A coalition calling itself centrist Wants nation state arrangement state intervention limit economic downturn inCluding state support industry limiting imports Calls gradual privatization industry preference workers sharing ownership MOVEMENT FOR SELF GOVERNED DEMOCRACY SOCIETY FOR MORAVIA AND SILESIA HSD SMS Centrist Wants Czechoslovakia consist three equal ruling subjects Bohemia Moravia Slovakia Supports return death penalty least being Backs limit criminal activity uncontrolled migration gypsy population Wants socially balanced transition market economy varied forms ownership CIVIC DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE ODA I party winner although Czech parliament ODA moderate right party several excellent politicians leaders including federal Economics Minister Vladimr Dlouhy Tomas Jegek privatization minister ODA intellectuals apparently connect rural voters ODA chairman Jan Kalvoda outgoing deputy chairman Czech government He Czech politician after years frustrating fruitless negotiations Slovaks future state things cannot Czechs cannot concessions For called Czech nationalist SLOVAK REPUBL IC MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SLOVAKIA HZDS The leader party which labels itself center Vladimlr Meiar This burly former boxer charismatic leader whose manner ranges smooth charm obscenities threats physical violence Me6iar lawyer entered politics through Public Against Violence He became Slovakia interior minister after revolution prime minister When ousted founded HZDS He linked secret police disappearance secret police files He intervened people associated secret police Interior posts None popularity He known inconsistency tailoring audience He favors sovereign Slovakia Sometimes means Czech Republic other times independent country Favors socially oriented market mechanism mixed ownership This state interference economic development He doesn journalists pander He threatened refused answer another question press briefing recently conference invited journalists PARTY OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT SDL Leftist This revamped Slovak Communist Party which Communist anymore It membership comes number parties across political spectrum percent voters religious It wants continue reform steps would social explosion Would advocate looser federation Slovak voters decide referendum SLOVAK NATIONAL PARTY SNS Separatist Calls itself centrist Pushing endof federation establishment independent Slovak state Thinks state should create conditions economic development including breaks building infrastructure Sees state CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT KDH The right party Slovak Prime Minister Ja Carnogursky replaced Meiar spent prison Christian dissident activity For months pushed Slovakia having European Community called country federative arrangement temporary recently moved become supportive federation HUNGARIAN COALITION MEM A coalition working protect rights Hungarian minority living southern Slovakia This country lowest support Meciar party during elections Supports radical economic reform SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SLOVAKIA SDSS Left center This Alexander Dubek party Although Dub6ek second liked politician Slovak Republic behind Me6iar SDSS electe chamber federal Parliament It supports federation WHAT HAPPENS NEXT D ESIGNING A NEW GOVERNMENT Within after winning candidates assigned seats chambers federal Parliament elect their presidia Then meeting chambers Parliament chairman chairwoman deputies elected member joint presidium After first meeting Parliament outgoing federal Cabinet resigns president office until government formed The Cabinet support total Parliament representatives The makeup Cabinet result negotiations coalition areements among election winners The parties Klaus Meciar began talks mmediately after elections After federal Parliament agrees Cabinet passes recommendation president formally appoints Cabinet In Czech Slovak National Councils sidia their respective Cabinets Each Cabinet presents general program respective parliament approval PICKING THE PRESIDENT The election changed avoid deadlock electing president The process start July President Havel Only Parliament nominations Two rounds voting possible In first candidate receive support three fifths total membership Slovak Czech parts House Nations House People If happen second round which nominee needs simple majority If rounds unsuccessful candidates chosen Theoretically round series indefinitely limit number attempts Havel office three months after expires until Oct If president elected Parliament presidium functions including naming Cabinet WORST CASE SCENARIO If there president Cabinet place parliamentary elections could considered The situation today After lengthy meetings Czech Slovak negotiating teams report progress The talks about forming government They about country itself should ODS mandate support federation HZDS calls looser arrangement The sides talking about referendum Slovakia republics people decide All Dagmar Received Hanover June