2008 Woodie Awards
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The Scene
Czech election exposes corruption
By Kendra Garstka on 2/21/08
After a few heart attacks, back-door dealing, some threats and six voting rounds, the Czech Republic re-elected its current president, Václav Klaus, Feb. 15.
A parliamentary system governs the Czech Republic, so the president takes on the role as national representative for the country. While the president does not have any legislative powers, the election was still widely discussed.
Prior to the election, professors discussed the process with us in class and their views on the candidates. After the election, one professor in particular voiced her disgust with the whole system and gave ideas to change it.
The Czech Parliament first met to elect a new president Feb. 8 and continued until the next day, but no president was elected. Klaus was favored to win and came close in the third round of voting Feb. 9, but fell short one vote.
The Parliament, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, elects the president. In the past, voting was secret, but the constitution states no rules. So, after much haggling, the Parliament agreed to open voting, putting more pressure on the members since lobbyists could see if the members were following their deals.
The elections consist of three rounds of voting. In the first round, the houses vote separately and a candidate needs a majority of all possible votes to win. The houses vote separately again in the second round and a candidate needs support from a majority of members present. In the third round, if no candidate has won yet, the houses vote together and a candidate needs a majority of the total votes. If any candidate still doesn't have a majority after the third round, the process is repeated days later.
Parliament members are heavily lobbied for their vote. Backroom deals can hardly be called uncommon. But the Czechs take it to the next level. Deputies and senators were threatened to change their votes, intimidated, blackmailed and the target of anonymous threats. A few members even suffered heart attacks from such threats.
A parliamentary system governs the Czech Republic, so the president takes on the role as national representative for the country. While the president does not have any legislative powers, the election was still widely discussed.
Prior to the election, professors discussed the process with us in class and their views on the candidates. After the election, one professor in particular voiced her disgust with the whole system and gave ideas to change it.
The Czech Parliament first met to elect a new president Feb. 8 and continued until the next day, but no president was elected. Klaus was favored to win and came close in the third round of voting Feb. 9, but fell short one vote.
The Parliament, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, elects the president. In the past, voting was secret, but the constitution states no rules. So, after much haggling, the Parliament agreed to open voting, putting more pressure on the members since lobbyists could see if the members were following their deals.
The elections consist of three rounds of voting. In the first round, the houses vote separately and a candidate needs a majority of all possible votes to win. The houses vote separately again in the second round and a candidate needs support from a majority of members present. In the third round, if no candidate has won yet, the houses vote together and a candidate needs a majority of the total votes. If any candidate still doesn't have a majority after the third round, the process is repeated days later.
Parliament members are heavily lobbied for their vote. Backroom deals can hardly be called uncommon. But the Czechs take it to the next level. Deputies and senators were threatened to change their votes, intimidated, blackmailed and the target of anonymous threats. A few members even suffered heart attacks from such threats.
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