Directorate-General for the Presidency Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments

Factsheet: The Czech Chamber of Deputies

Thun Palace, seat of the Chamber of Deputies 1. At a glance

The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy. The Czech Parliament (Parlament České republiky) is made up of two Chambers, both directly elected – the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká sněmovna) and the Senate (Senát).

The 200 Members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected for four-year terms. Elections to the Chamber of Deputies are held by secret ballot on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage and pursuant to the principles of proportional representation.

The Chamber of Deputies is entrusted with greater powers than the Senate, especially as regards the exercise of parliamentary scrutiny over the Government, the latter being only responsible to the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber of Deputies has also greater legislative powers than the Senate and it is the only body that debates and decides the state budget. In the case of proposals for regular laws, the Chamber may vote to override the Senate by a simple majority of votes, if the latter has rejected a legislative proposal or proposed any amendments. However, in the case of proposed constitutional laws or proposals for the expression of consent with the ratification of international agreements as well as in certain cases pertaining to defence and security, the Chamber and the Senate have equal powers.

The current coalition government under Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (ČSSD/S&D) was sworn in on 29 January 2014 and is composed of ČSSD (S&D), ANO (ALDE) and KDU-ČSL (EPP).

2. Composition Results of the elections of 25-26 October 2013 Party EP affiliation % Seats Česká strana sociálně demokratická (ČSSD) Czech Social Democratic Party 20,45 50 ANO 2011 18,65 47 Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy KSČM) Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia 14,91 33 TOP 09 a Starostové 26 TOP 09 and Mayors 11,99 Občanská demokratická strana (ODS) 16 Civic Democratic Party 7,72 Not affiliated Úsvit přímé demokracie 6,88 14 Dawn of Direct Democracy Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová (KDU-ČSL) Christian and Democratic Union – 6,78 14 Czechoslovak People's Party 200 Turnout: 59,48% The next elections must take place in autumn 2017 at the latest.

Page 1 3. Officeholders

President of the Chamber of Deputies Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs

Mr Jan Hamáček (ČSSD/S&D), Mr Ondřej Benešík (KDU-ČSL/EPP), since 27 November 2013 since 12 December 2013

Secretary General of the Czech Chamber of Deputies: Mr Petr Kynštetr, since 26 January 1990

4. Relations with Members of the European Parliament

Participation rights for Czech MEPs in Yes, as guests, following the prior plenary sittings authorisation of the Chamber of Deputies Participation rights for Czech MEPs in Partially (Czech MEPs may attend committee committee meetings meetings and may take part in their proceedings without having a right to vote or to move motions and amendments.) Availability of videoconferencing system in No the Czech Chamber of Deputies

5. Information links

– Official website: http://www.psp.cz/ – Rules of procedure in English – List of committees – Recent documents submitted by the Czech Chamber of Deputies to the Interparliamentary EU Information Exchange (IPEX) – European Parliament Information Office in Prague

6. Contacts

Factsheet author and contact in the Brussels-based contact of the Czech EP Directorate for Relations with National Chamber of Deputies: Parliaments:

Ms Jitka Polášková Ms Eva Tetourová Office WIE 05U024, 1047 Brussels Office WIE 06U024, 1047 Brussels Phone +32 2 28 31056 Phone +32 2 28 43312 [email protected] [email protected]

Last updated on 19 January 2016. Photo credits: Czech Parliament. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/relnatparl [email protected]