Czechs to elect their first ever Euro-MPs

For the first time ever, Czechs are deciding who will represent them in the European Parliament. This Friday and Saturday over 8 million Czech voters are choosing among some 800 candidates fielded by 31 political parties and groupings. The Czech Republic will have 24 deputies in the 732-member European body.

Czechs to elect their first ever Euro-MPs

Ballot boxes, photo: CTK

Observers agree that voters will base their decisions on domestic rather than European issues. The outcome of the vote could also have a major influence on the domestic political situation in the Czech Republic - if the ruling coalition of the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union does not do well in the vote.

The head of the smallest coalition party, the Freedom Union, Petr Mares, has said he will resign if none of his party's candidates make it into the European Parliament, a scenario that opinion polls suggest is very likely. But the Prime Minister, Vladimir Spidla, has denied speculation that a poor showing in the election could lead to the collapse of the government.

President Vaclav Klaus has called on Czech voters to come out and vote and not let others decide for them, and the former President, Vaclav Havel, has also expressed hopes for a high turnout, adding that the European Parliament decides on the way the whole continent works.

Earlier opinion polls suggested a 60-percent voter turnout, but many observers think this is an extremely optimistic estimate, with polls published this week suggesting a figure between 30-40 percent.