Two strongest parties mobilizing their voters ahead of second vote

Both the Civic Democrats and the Social Democrats are mobilizing their voters ahead of the second round of elections to the Senate due to take place next weekend. In view of the Social Democrats’ strong lead in the first round of voting, the ruling Civic Democrats fear they could lose their narrow majority in the upper chamber. The balance of power in the Senate will be crucial for pending votes on planned reforms, the Lisbon treaty, winning approval for a US radar base to be built on Czech soil, and the government’s decision to send more troops to Afghanistan and Kosovo in 2009.