Civic Democratic Party

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The Civic Democratic Party (Czech: Občanská demokratická strana - abbreviation: ODS) is the largest conservative political party in the Czech Republic. In its public statements, it typically mixes eurosceptic and market liberal rhetoric, although it is often viewed as more moderate on both issues in actual policies.

The party was founded in 1991, after the Civic Forum split, by Václav Klaus and it is currently led by Mirek Topolánek. It led the Czech government in 1993-1997 and supported the government of the Czech Social Democratic Party in 1998-2002 under a power sharing agreement.

In the 2002 elections, it became the second largest party in the Chamber of Representatives with 58 of 200 seats, and for the first time in its history, assumed the role of a true opposition party. The current Czech president, Václav Klaus, was a member of the party, but the head of government is from the rival Czech Social Democratic Party. In the European Parliament elections in June and in Senate and regional assembly elections in November 2004 it was always a winner with over 30% votes.

Internationally, it is aligned with the International Democratic Union, the party itself claims to have similar ideas along the lines of the British Conservative Party, the Polish Civic Platform and the Spanish Partido Popular.

In July 2006, the Civic Democratic Party signed an agreement with the British Conservative Party to leave the European People's Party and form a new centre-right European political party in 2009.

Election results

1992 Czech National Council: (in coalition with Chrisitan Democratic Party 29,7 %) - 66 seats
1996 Chamber of Deputies: 29.6 % - 68 seats
1996 Senate: 29 seats
1998 Chamber of Deputies: 27.8 % - 63 seats
1998 Senate: 9 seats
2000 Senate: 8 seat
2002 Chamber of Deputies: 25.4 % - 58 seats
2002 Senate: 9 seats
2004 Senate: 18 seats
2004 European Parliament: 30 % - 9 seats
2006 Chamber of Deputies: 35.4 % - 81 seats

External link

[ODS, the official website (mostly in Czech)]

Political Parties in the Czech Republic
Chamber of Deputies: (2006)	Civic Democratic Party (81) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (74) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (26) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (13) \| Green Party (6)
Senate: ()	Civic Democratic Party (36) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (7) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (6) \| Union of Independents (3) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (2) \| Independents Movement (2) \| independent candidates (2) \| European Democrats (1) \| Freedom Union - Democratic Union (1) \| coalition of Freedom Union - Democratic Union and Civic Democratic Alliance (1) \| Green Party (1) \| Liberal Reform Party (1) \| Movement of independents for harmonious development of communes and towns (1) \| Path of Change (1)
European Parliament: (2004)	Civic Democratic Party (9) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (6) \| Union of Independents (2) and European Democrats (1) = (3) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (2) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (2) \| Independent Democrats (1) \| independent (1)
(latest elections)	(seats) [source]

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