Ideologies and Political Power after the Fall of Communism:
The primary concerns of post-Communist
Czechoslovakian politics were that of the separation of the country and
the future of the economy. The early nineties brought political tension
and the creation of multiple new parties.
In post-communist Czechoslovakia (official
name of Czech and Slovak Federative Republic) the party system went through
a total makeover. The former Communist party of Czechoslovakia split
into different Czech and Slovak parties in 1990. Furthermore, in
1993 the Czech party split again when the reformists resigned from the
doctrinaire parent party and eventually the Slovak party changed its name
to the Party of the Democratic Left. The above parties all held fairly
traditionalist Communist beliefs. They appealed to the blue-collar
working class in order to survive politically.
Civic Forum (Czech reformists) and
Public Against Violence (Slovak reformists) were basically blanket organizations
whose obvious direction was to confront Communism and reform the system.
They were mainly comprised of intelligentsia; however, they did have some
working class contingency. Both of these coalitions collapsed in
1990 after the elections simply due to differing political standpoints
of its members.
Vladimir Meciar won the 1990 elections
for Public Against Violence, and then promptly left to form the nationalist-populist
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). The HZDS were concerned
with advocating more Slovak autonomy while not completely breaking with
the Czechs in order to stimulate their own economy. Their ideology
slid backwards towards a more communist tendency throughout its years of
rule. The party was fairly strong as it ruled from 1990 to 1998 in
Slovakia.
After the collapse of Civic Forum,
the Czech Minister of Finance Vaclav Klaus formed the slightly right Civic
Democratic party (ODS), who centered on creating a market economy and splitting
the Czechoslovak state. They promoted "shock therapy" as the solution
to their economic woes. The ODS was also a very strong political
party as Klaus remained prime minister from 1992 to 1997.
The opposing Czech party, the Czech
Social Democratic party concentrated on education, health, housing, and
environmental reforms. They capitalized on the fact that the Communists
effectively ignored all of the above during their reign of power.
They became the second largest party in parliament and grew even more popular
after the elections of 1996.
The Republican Party represented the
radical right. The party concerned itself with racist and xenophobic
nationalism, primarily against Roma and Germans. They also opposed
the division of Czechoslovakia and advocated the formation of a "Greater
Czechoslovakia" with Ruthenia. It has remained
outside of mainstream politics; however, they have gained seats in parliament
post-1992.
Vaclav Klaus
Vladimir Meciar
Parties Represented in the Lower House of Parliament
-Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD): Founded on April 7, 1878, it is the oldest party in the Czech Republic. The current party leader is Vladimir Spidla who is also the First Deputy Prime Minister (as of 2001). The Social Democrats favor a "social market economy" and have also stressed the importance of increased foreign investment. They are also very "pro-European" in that they favor entry into the European Union and further integration into the European economic arena. The party traditionally draws working-class voters, many of whom are public service employees and trade union members.
-Civic Democratic Party (ODS): Officially founded in 1991 after the breakup of Civic Forum, ODS has constantly held a significant amount of power in the Czech Republic. Its party leader is Vaclav Klaus who has shaped many of the ideals of the party. He (and the party) is an advocate of a free and open market and instigated many of the economic reforms that have taken place in the 1990s. The party is slightly skeptical of integration into the European Union, although they generally favor it. Their voter base mainly consists of middle class entrepeneurs. They are very strong in urban areas and are highly favored by women.
-Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL): KDU-CSL was originally founded as a conservative Catholic party. They survived the Communist regime, but were absorbed into the National Front, and only began functioning independently after the Velvet Revolution. It officially changed its name to the above in 1992 in order to distance itself from its Communist past. The current party leader is Cyril Svoboda (former Interior Minister, Jan-July 1998). The party is still considered a traditional, conservative Roman-Catholic based organization. It is partly pro-European Union. They are strongest in their battle against corruption and the rule of law. They primarily appeal to Catholic voters and small town conservatives, with stron support in rural Moravia.
-The Freedom Union-Democratic Union (US-DEU): The party was formed in 1998 by disenchanted members of parliament, who broke away from from Klaus's Civic Democratic Party, and had brought down his government in 1997. The party leader is Hana Marvanova. US-DEU is a right-of-centre party who is dedicated to "free market liberalism." They stress the environment and minority rights along with tax reductions. They are very strongly pro-European Union. They appeal to intellectuals, young people, and those who dislike the larger parties.
-The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM): The party was officially formed in 1990, but it is in reality the heir to the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Its leader is Miroslav Grebenicek. They are a socialist party who believes in a state controlled economy. They are opposed to Czech membership to NATO, but remains divided on the European Union issue. Their voter base consists of many older people who have had trouble adjusting to the new Czech Republic. They also have strong support from industrial areas that suffer from high unemployment.
Rothschild, Joseph., Nancy M. Wingfield. Return
to Diversity: A Political History of East Central
Europe
Since World War II. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.