The approaching elections in the Czech Republic are prompting new strategies among smaller parties, which continue to grapple with the obstacles posed by the electoral system. While some are forming formal alliances (such as SPOLU), others are resorting to informal pacts to circumvent the high electoral thresholds. This practice has sparked legal disputes and raised concerns about the future stability of Parliament. The outcome could be an unprecedentedly fragmented Chamber of Deputies.

Key Takeaways:

• Smaller parties are making use of various types of alliances – both formal and undeclared – to improve their chances of entering the Chamber of Deputies. This approach allows them to circumvent strict electoral rules (the so-called additive thresholds), but at the same time, it is giving rise to legal disputes.
• Pre-election polls suggest that most coalitions involving smaller parties are likely to win seats in Parliament. This could result in a record number of entities represented.
• In some cases, the courts have criticised the conduct of parties engaged in undeclared alliances. The final word will rest with the Constitutional Court. It is also likely that we will see a lawsuit at the Supreme Administrative Court challenging the overall validity of the elections.

Analysis – Karel Sál

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.