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1998 Czech parliamentary election

1998 Czech legislative election

← 1996 19–20 June 1998 2002 →
All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 101 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Miloš Zeman Václav Klaus Miroslav Grebeníček Party ČSSD ODS KSČM Seats won 74 63 24 Seat change 13 5 2 Popular vote 1,928,660 1,656,011 658,550 Percentage 32.31% 27.74% 11.03% Swing 2.69 pp 1.88 pp 1.30 pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Josef Lux Jan Ruml Party Lidovci US Seats won 20 19 Seat change 2 New Popular vote 537,013 513,596 Percentage 8.99% 8.60% Swing 0.91pp New
Result of election
Prime Minister before election Josef Tošovský Independent Prime Minister after election Miloš Zeman ČSSD

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Parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on 19 and 20 June 1998.^[1] The Czech Social Democratic Party emerged as the largest party, winning 74 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 73.9%.^[2]

Background[edit]

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) had won the 1996 parliamentary elections. The party's leader, Václav Klaus, then formed a minority government supported by the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD).^[3][4] The government lasted until 1998, when it resigned during a political crisis that caused the division of ODS and the disintegration of the ruling coalition. Snap elections was called for June 1998.^[5][6]

Campaign[edit]

The ODS was weakened by the creation of a new party, the Freedom Union (US). The US was formed by former members of ODS who had left after a conflict with Václav Klaus. The ODS was polling at around 10%, with the US expected to replace it as the major right-wing party. The ČSSD was expected to win by large margin. The ODS launched their campaign with warnings that a new government would contain Communist members and used its leader Klaus heavily during the campaign. The ČSSD criticised the work of Klaus' cabinet and recycled slogans used during 1996 campaign, as well as promising to fight against corruption.^[6]

Finances[edit]

Opinion polls[edit]

Results[edit]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Czech Social Democratic Party	1,928,660	32.31	74	+13
	Civic Democratic Party	1,656,011	27.74	63	–5
	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	658,550	11.03	24	+2
	KDU-ČSL	537,013	9.00	20	+2
	Freedom Union	513,596	8.60	19	New
	SPR-RSČ	232,965	3.90	0	–18
	Pensioners for Life Security	182,900	3.06	0	0
	Democratic Union	86,431	1.45	0	0
	Green Party	67,143	1.12	0	New
	Independents	51,981	0.87	0	0
	Moravian Democratic Party	22,282	0.37	0	New
	Czech National Social Party	17,185	0.29	0	New
	Civic Coalition – Political Club	14,788	0.25	0	New
Total		5,969,505	100.00	200	0
Valid votes		5,969,505	99.58
Invalid/blank votes		25,339	0.42
Total votes		5,994,844	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		8,116,836	73.86
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Volby

References[edit]