June 8-9, 1990: The first free elections after four decades of communist rule
Thirty-five years ago, on June -8-9, Czechs and Slovaks went to the polls in the first free elections held after the fall of the communist regime. Elections were held to both chambers of the Federal Assembly and the Czech and Slovak National Councils. In the Czech Republic, they were won by Civic Forum (OF), established by the Czech dissent, in Slovakia, by the movement Public Against Violence. Surprisingly, the Communists did unexpectedly well, coming in second.
The first free elections after the fall of the communist regime attracted unprecedented public interest. They took place in a euphoric atmosphere of hope and anticipation. People rejoiced in the fact that they were finally free to decide the future of their country.
Calls for political change flooded the public space. Banners sporting slogans such as "Parties are for apparatchiks, the OF is for everyone" or "Back to Europe" hung on buildings, in the streets and in shop windows. They appeared at demonstrations, in the press and in the hands of citizens, eager to voice their desire for democracy.
The turnout exceeded 96% of eligible voters, a figure that has never been surpassed since. "Our citizens care deeply about the future of this country," commented then president Václav Havel.
The “Bartončík” affair influenced the campaign
The elections were preceded by a controversy surrounding the chair of the Christian Democratic Party, Josef Bartončík, who was accused of collaborating with the communist secret service StB. The report on his activities was released just before the elections, impacting the political environment.
Civic Forum won landslide victory
The Civic Forum won approximately 50% of the votes in the elections to the Federal Assembly and the Czech National Council. "Our strategy was respect for voters and faith in their wisdom," commented then-candidate Miloš Zeman.
The election period was shortened to two years during which time lawmakers were to approve a new constitution. This expectation was not fulfilled. Czech-Slovak issues emerged –ahead of the eventual breakup of the common state - and the victorious Civic Forum disintegrated less than a year later. But the 1990 elections were a major political turning point and a key step towards the democratization of society.
