1998 Czech parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on 19 and 20 June 1998.^[1] The Czech Social Democratic Party emerged as the largest party, winning 74 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 73.9%.^[2]

1998 Czech legislative election

← 1996 19–20 June 1998 2002 →
All 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 101 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Miloš Zeman Václav Klaus Miroslav Grebeníček Party ČSSD ODS KSČM Seats won 74 63 24 Seat change 13 5 2 Popular vote 1,928,660 1,656,011 658,550 Percentage 32.31% 27.74% 11.03% Swing 2.69 pp 1.88 pp 1.30 pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Josef Lux Jan Ruml Party Lidovci US Seats won 20 19 Seat change 2 New Popular vote 537,013 513,596 Percentage 8.99% 8.60% Swing 0.91pp New
Result of election
Prime Minister before election Josef Tošovský Independent Prime Minister after election Miloš Zeman ČSSD

Background

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) had won the 1996 parliamentary elections. The party's leader, Václav Klaus, then formed a minority government supported by the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD).^[3][4] The government lasted until 1998, when it resigned during a political crisis that caused the division of ODS and the disintegration of the ruling coalition. Snap elections was called for June 1998.^[5][6]

Campaign

The ODS was weakened by the creation of a new party, the Freedom Union (US). The US was formed by former members of ODS who had left after a conflict with Václav Klaus. The ODS was polling at around 10%, with the US expected to replace it as the major right-wing party. The ČSSD was expected to win by large margin. The ODS launched their campaign with warnings that a new government would contain Communist members and used its leader Klaus heavily during the campaign. The ČSSD criticised the work of Klaus' cabinet and recycled slogans used during 1996 campaign, as well as promising to fight against corruption.^[6]

Finances

Party	Money spent (Kč)
Civic Democratic Party	30,000,000
Czech Social Democratic Party	30,000,000
Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party	30,000,000
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	8,000,000
Freedom Union	2,000,000
Source: České Noviny

Opinion polls

Polling firm	Date	ODS	ČSSD	KSČM	KDU-ČSL	ODA	US	SPR-RSČ	DŽJ	Others
STEM[7]	January 1998	15.0	32.0	10.0	11.0	n/a	n/a	5.0	n/a	27.0
IVVM	January 1998[8]	15.4	28.0	8.6	11.1	5.3	n/a	3.5	0.6	26.4
STEM	February 1998	12.0	29.0	11.0	9.0	n/a	11.0	8.0	n/a	20.0
IVVM	March 1998[8]	10.3	25.7	8.0	7.7	1.2	12.6	5.4	1.6	27.9
STEM	March 1998	11.0	30.0	9.0	9.0	n/a	18.0	8.0	n/a	15.0
STEM	April 1998	16.0	24.0	11.0	9.0	1.4	13.0	6.0	4.0	15.6
IVVM (for US)[8]	April 1998	15.9	23.7	10.7	9.1	1.3	12.7	5.7	6.2	3.3
IVVM[8]	April 1998	11.3	25.1	10.0	8.0	0.4	12.0	4.6	4.9	23.5
STEM	May 1998	16.0	25.0	11.0	9.0	n/a	14.0	5.0	n/a	20.0
IVVM (for US)[8]	May 1998	16.3	25.4	10.5	9.0	1.3	13.7	5.1	6.3	3.2
IVVM[8]	May 1998	14.2	22.1	8.5	5.8	0.6	9.1	3.9	10.2	26.2
IVVM[8]	June 1998	15.0	22.5	7.4	7.1	n/a	6.8	4.2	9.0	26.8
STEM	June 1998	19.0	22.0	9.0	7.0	n/a	8.0	5.0	n/a	30.0
Sofres Factum[9]	10 June 1998	19.5	26.7	9.0	6.0	n/a	5.4	n/a	n/a	12.9
Sofres Factum[9]	12 June 1998	19.1	29.3	9.1	6.0	n/a	6.9	n/a	n/a	8.3
STEM[9]	12 June 1998	20.7	23.2	10.3	8.8	n/a	8.4	n/a	n/a	9.1
Sofres Factum[9]	17 June 1998	21.4	27.6	9.2	7.5	n/a	7.1	n/a	n/a	10.3
Exit Polls
IFES and SC&C[9]	20 June 1998	27.1	32.2	11.4	9.2	n/a	8.5	3.9	3.0
Sofres Factum[9]	20 June 1998	27.0	32.0	11.0	9.2	n/a	8.4	3.8	3.8
Election results	19-20 June 1998	27.7	32.3	11.0	9.0	0	8.6	3.9	3.1	3.5

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Czech Social Democratic Party	1,928,660	32.31	74	+13
	Civic Democratic Party	1,656,011	27.74	63	–5
	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	658,550	11.03	24	+2
	KDU-ČSL	537,013	9.00	20	+2
	Freedom Union	513,596	8.60	19	New
	SPR-RSČ	232,965	3.90	0	–18
	Pensioners for Life Security	182,900	3.06	0	0
	Democratic Union	86,431	1.45	0	0
	Green Party	67,143	1.12	0	New
	Independents	51,981	0.87	0	0
	Moravian Democratic Party	22,282	0.37	0	New
	Czech National Social Party	17,185	0.29	0	New
	Civic Coalition – Political Club	14,788	0.25	0	New
Total		5,969,505	100.00	200	0
Valid votes		5,969,505	99.58
Invalid/blank votes		25,339	0.42
Total votes		5,994,844	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		8,116,836	73.86
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Volby

Vote share by district

• 
  ODS
• 
  CSSD
• 
  KSCM
• 
  KDU CSL
• 
  SPR RSC