The opposition Social Democrats triumphed in the weekend senate elections winning a majority in the upper house of Parliament and pledging to use the power to slow down the government’s reform drive. The vote is seen as the first real test of public support for the government’s far-reaching austerity plans.
Social Democrats (Bohuslav Sobotka in the center), photo: CTK
Within hours of polling stations closing on Saturday, it was clear that the country’s opposition Social Democrats had succeeded in their aim to gain control of the senate, a victory that will enable them to slow down the government’s reform drive. In elections to a third of the upper chamber 12 of the party’s candidates, out of 22 in the running, clinched seats bringing the party’s total in the 81-member senate to 41. Acting party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said he considered the elections a public vote on the government’s reform plans and promised voters his party would make good use of its newly-gained power.
“Our aim is to correct the government’s reforms, if we find that the proposals are unjust or would place an excessive burden on socially weaker groups of the population then we will block them in the senate. We are not going to implement a policy of no-tolerance to the reforms as such, every bill will be considered individually. We intend to be constructive and are ready to enter into a dialogue with the government on a reform which will be fair, balanced and socially tolerable.”
Petr Nečas, photo: CTK
The centre-right Civic Democrats, the biggest party in the coalition government, lost 11 seats in the poll, bringing their ranks in the upper chamber to a mere 25 seats. The other two coalition partners also performed poorly –TOP 09 seen as the engineer of the government’s austerity package lost 4 seats to keep three, while Public Affairs won nothing and is not represented in the senate at all. Putting a brave face on the defeat, Prime Minister Petr Nečas of the Civic Democrats, said the opposition only had the power to delay not overturn the planned reforms.
“The outcome of elections to the senate and last week’s municipal elections will not alter the government’s reform plans by a single millimetre. The government’s reform drive is based on the outcome of general elections and the subsequent coalition agreement signed by the three parties in government. It has given us a unique chance to change this country for the better and we intend to use it. As I have said before, all key reforms will be debated with the opposition, that’s standard policy based on political culture.”
Despite their business-as-usual attitude, the governing coalition is clearly bracing for problems. Although the lower house – where the right has a comfortable majority - can override most senate vetoes, the senate can delay bills by up to 30 days, before returning them to the lower chamber. Thinking to counterbalance the inevitable delays – especially concerning next year’s budget - Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek has already proposed calling a state of legislative emergency, a move that Prime Minister Nečas has described as premature. As the strongest party in the upper chamber the Social Democrats will now be able to elect one of their own as senate chairman and they will have the final word on constitutional amendments and ratifying international agreements.
