Civic Democratic Alliance

Czech Republic

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The Civic Democratic Alliance (Czech: Občanská demokratická aliance, ODA) was a small liberal centre-right political party in the Czech Republic, functional between years 1989 (founded shortly after the Velvet revolution) and 2007.

History

ODA was established in 1989 by a group of intellectuals as a conservative-liberal party, based on ideas often expressed in The Salisbury Review. The other motive was personal antipathy to Václav Klaus and his party ODS.

In Czech legislative election, 1992, ODA obtained over 300,000 votes (5,93 per cent of all votes) and gained 14 seats in Czech National Council. It became part of right-wing coalition (First government of Václav Klaus) together with Civic Democratic Party, Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party and Christian Democratic Party.

In Czech legislative election, 1996, ODA obtained even 6,36 per cent of votes and again formed coalition with Civic Democratic Party and Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (Second government of Václav Klaus). However, this government didn't manage to form majority in the Chamber of Deputies and so was depending on toleration of centre-left Czech Social Democratic Party (government disposed of 99 deputies out of 200, social democrats of 61 deputies and non-system parties of 40 deputies). Following financial scandals of Civic Democratic Party, the coalition fell apart. Both Civic Democratic Alliance and KDU-ČSL participated in caretaker government of Josef Tošovský.

It didn't participate in Czech legislative election, 1998, "to not split votes for right-wing". It formed Čtyřkoalice (Four-coalition) with Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party, Freedom Union and Democratic Union as opposition to grand coalition of right-wing Civic Democratic Party and left-wing Czech Social Democratic Party. However, it became its weakest member, and after its funding problems came to light, it ceased to take part in Czech political scene. It only had one senator, prince Karel Schwarzenberg (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic since 2007). It ceased on December 31, 2007.

Election results

• 1992 Czech National Council: 5,9 % - 14 seats
• 1996 Chamber of Deputies: 6.4 % - 13 seats
• 1996 Senate: no seat
• 1998 Senate: 4 seats
• 2000 Senate: 1 seat
• 2002 Senate: no seat
• 2004 Senate: 1 seat
• 2004 European Parliament: (as a part of Union of Liberal Democrats 1.7 % - no seat)

Seats in the Chamber of Deputies

Seats in the Senate

See also

• Liberalism
• Liberalism worldwide
• List of liberal parties
• Liberalism in the Czech lands

External links

• Civic Democratic Alliance official site
• Short history in narrative form (in Czech)