1996 Czech Senate election

Senate elections were held in the Czech Republic for the first time on 15 and 16 November 1996, with a second round on 22 and 23 November.[1] the first after independence. The result was a victory for the Civic Democratic Party, which won 32 of the 81 seats. Voter turnout was 34.9% in the first round and 30.6% in the second.[2]

1996 Czech Senate election

15–16 November 1996 (first round) 22–23 November 1996 (second round)

Leader Václav Klaus Miloš Zeman Josef Lux Party ODS ČSSD KDU–ČSL Seats won 32 25 13 1st round 1,006,036 36.5% 559,304 20.3% 274,316 9.9% 2nd round 1,134,044 49.2% 733,713 31.8% 247,819 10.7%   Leader Jan Kalvoda Miroslav Grebeníček Party ODA KSČM Seats won 7 2 1st round 222,319 8.1% 393,494 14.3% 2nd round 119,730 5.2% 45,304 2.0%

This was the only time Senate elections were held in all 81 single-member constituencies at the same time. Senators elected in 1996 were divided into three classes depending on number of their constituencies to determine which Senate seats would be up for election in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Senators in the Czech Republic are elected for six-year terms, with one-third being renewed every two years.

The elections were held using the two-round system, with an absolute majority required to be elected.

Opinion polls

Date	Polling firm	ODS	ČSSD	KSČM	KDU-ČSL	ODA	SPR-RSČ	Others/Undecided
August 1996	IVVM[3]	15.7	10.4	3.0	2.6	1.5	0.9	65.9
September 1996	IVVM[3]	38.4	21.0	15.3	8.4	6.6	2.3	8.0
October 1996	IVVM[3]	34.6	25.7	12.3	11.2	8.6	1.1	6.6
November 1996	IVVM[3]	40.8	24.1	11.8	9.9	8.0	1.6	3.8

Results

Party	First round		Second round		Seats
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Civic Democratic Party	1,006,036	36.5	1,134,044	49.2	32
Czech Social Democratic Party	559,304	20.3	733,713	31.8	25
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	393,494	14.3	45,304	2.0	2
KDU-ČSL	274,316	9.9	247,819	10.7	13
Civic Democratic Alliance	222,319	8.1	119,730	5.2	7
Independent Candidate	117,641	4.3	11,993	0.5	1
Democratic Union	185,015	6.7	14,656	0.6	1
Independents and others					0
Invalid/blank votes	32,960	–	16,182	–	–
Total	2,791,085	100	2,323,441	100	81
Sourcesa: Nohlen & Stöver, Czech Statistical Office

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p472
3. "Nesstar WebView". nesstar.soc.cas.cz. Retrieved 4 January 2017.