The Czech Political and Electoral System
An overview of governance, structure, and challenges
Parliamentary Representative Democracy
The Czech political system is a parliamentary representative democracy, which allows citizens to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Three Branches of Power
Legislative branch (votes on laws)
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Parliament
In Czechia:
The Chamber of Deputies (Sněmovna)
The Senate
Executive branch (implements laws)
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Government
In Czechia:
The President
The Prime-Minister and the Cabinet
Judicial branch (evaluates laws)
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the Courts
In Czechia:
The Constitutional Court
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Administrative Court
Lower Courts
Parliament
Chamber of Deputies
- 200 members elected for four-year terms
- proportional representation system
- at least 5% of the vote to gain seats (this threshold slightly benefits the larger parties)
- primary legislative body (passing laws, approving budgets, and ratifying treaties)
Senate composition
- 81 members serving six-year terms
- one-third of the seats up for election every two years (see image below)
- senators represent 81 individual constituencies
- two-round majority electoral system
- more independent (not aligned with a party) members
- less powerful than the Chamber of Deputies (some amendment powers, approval of international treaties)
- serves as a check on the Chamber of Deputies
Government
The President
- Head of State
- elected in a two-round direct vote system
- elected for a five-year term with a maximum of two terms
- appoints the Prime Minister
- can veto legislation
- represents the Czech Republic internationally
- suggests and appoints key officials
The current president, elected in 2023, is Petr Pavel.
The Prime Minister
- Head of the Cabinet
- manages governmental operations and the administration’s overall direction
- possesses significant authority (proposing legislation, directing the budget, and coordinating the work of other governmental bodies)
- fundamental in shaping domestic and foreign policy and responding to national issues
The current Prime Minister is Petr Fiala (ODS).
How the Prime Minister forms a cabinet
- a cabinet needs the support of at least 101 members of the Chamber of Deputies
- after Chamber of Deputies elections, the leader of the party with the most seats attempts to form a cabinet
- as no party typically wins a majority, they must negotiate with other parties to secure support for a governing program (a coalition agreement)
- if negotiations are successful, the program will pass a Chamber vote
- the President then formally appoints the Prime Minister and his proposed Cabinet members
The current government is a coalition of SPOLU and STAN. SPOLU is itself a coalition and consists of three separate political parties: ODS, TOP09 and KDU-CSL. The SPOLU-parties took part in the 2021 election as one list. Acting as one, with one leader, allowed them to beat the 2nd largest party, ANO, and get the opportunity to form a government.
The Cabinet: Parties, names and function
Foto: ODS
ODS
- Petr Fiala – Prime Minister
- Zbyněk Stanjura – Finance Minister
- Pavel Blažek – Justice Minister
- Martin Baxa – Culture Minister
- Jana Černochová – Defense Minister
- Martin Kupka – Transport Minister
Foto: CTK/Glück Dalibor
KDU-ČSL
- Marian Jurečka – Work and Social Affairs Minister
- Marek Výborný – Agriculture Minister
- Petr Hladík – Environment Minister
Foto: TOP09
TOP09
- Vlastimil Válek – Health Minister
- Marek Ženíšek – Science and Innovation Minister
Zródło: Flickr/Pirátská strana (CC BY-SA 2.0)
STAN
- Vít Rakušan – Minister of Internal Affairs
- Petr Kulhánek – Minister of Local Development
- Lukáš Vlček – Minister of Industry and Trade
- Mikuláš Bek – Minister of Education, Youth and Sports
- Martin Dvořák – Minister for European Affairs
Zródło: Flickr/Pirátská strana (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Independent**
- Jan Lipavský – Minister for Foreign Affairs
* The number of ministers per party, and the importance of the specific functions, is dependent on the number of seats a party has in parliament/adds to the coalition.
** Jan Lipavský was a member of the Piráty Party, which was part of the government until October 2024. After the Pirates left the coalition, he stayed on as an independent.
Dynamic cooperation and opposition
President and Prime Minister
Multi-party Dynamics and Coalitions
A Senate Majority
The new cabinet does not always have a majority in the Senate due to its distinct electoral cycle, which produces different political dynamics. Not having a supportive Senate complicates governing, and requires broader negotiations with Senators and greater compromises on proposed laws and regulations to secure an ad-hoc majority for each individual proposal.
The Judicial Branch of Government
Judicial structure
The judicial branch of Czechia plays a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law, interpreting legislation, and ensuring that the actions of other branches of government comply with the country’s Constitution.
Czechia’s judicial system is an independent entity, structured to guarantee fairness, impartiality, and justice. It operates under a civil law system, derived from its historical legal traditions and influenced by European legal standards.
The judiciary’s responsibilities include adjudicating disputes, protecting individual rights, and providing checks and balances on the executive and legislative branches.
The Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court
The Constitutional Court safeguards the constitutionality of laws and acts as the guardian of the Czech Constitution.
It consists of 15 judges suggested and appointed by the president, with Senate approval, for 10-year terms.
The Constitutional Court can annul laws or executive actions that it finds unconstitutional and protect the constitutional rights of citizens.
Supreme and Supreme Administrative Courts: These courts are the highest in the Czech judicial hierarchy. The Supreme Court deals with civil and criminal cases. The Supreme Administrative Court focuses on administrative issues and handles disputes between citizens and the state.
Other courts and judicial bodies
Czechia’s judiciary also includes regional and district courts, which handle cases at the local and intermediate levels. Judges are appointed for life by the President, ensuring their independence.
Judicial independence is reinforced by the principle of separation of powers, and judges are bound by a code of conduct to maintain impartiality. Additionally, Czechia participates in the broader European legal framework, allowing its citizens to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights when domestic remedies are exhausted.
The judicial branch’s autonomy is essential for maintaining democratic governance, protecting individual liberties, and resolving disputes impartially. By acting as a guardian of the Constitution and the legal order, the Czech judiciary ensures that all state actions adhere to the principles of justice and legality, thereby fostering public trust in the rule of law.
Challenges: Oligarchs & Corruption
Challenge: Influence of Oligarchs
The influence of oligarchs in Czech politics poses challenges to the integrity of the democratic process. Their financial power can sway political decisions and undermine accountability, leading to concerns over the fairness of the political system.
Andrej Babiš built his fortune through Agrofert, a massive conglomerate spanning agriculture, chemicals, and media, which he acquired in the 1990s during Czechia’s post-communist privatization. His business empire grew through state subsidies, European Union funding, and acquisitions, making him one of the country’s wealthiest figures. In 2011, he founded the ANO movement (“Action of Dissatisfied Citizens”), initially presenting it as an anti-corruption party opposed to traditional political elites. However, after becoming Prime Minister (2017–2021), he faced numerous scandals, including an EU audit that ruled he had violated conflict-of-interest laws by continuing to control Agrofert while it benefited from public contracts and subsidies. His ownership of major newspapers and television outlets further blurred the lines between business and politics, raising concerns over media independence. The Pandora Papers exposed his offshore dealings, fueling criticism that his wealth and power had compromised democratic accountability.
Daniel Křetínský amassed his wealth through aggressive investments in the energy sector, particularly via Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH), which he co-founded in 2009. His rise was fueled by acquiring coal, gas, and nuclear assets across Europe, often purchasing undervalued state-owned properties during privatization waves. Over time, he expanded into media, acquiring stakes in major Czech newspapers and European publications. While he has avoided direct political engagement, his control over strategic energy assets has made him a key player in policy debates on energy security and green transition. His past business ties with Russian companies have raised concerns, especially given Czechia’s reliance on Russian energy imports. His growing international influence, including attempts to acquire Royal Mail’s parent company in the UK, has further cemented his status as a power broker with economic and political leverage.
Pavel Tykač made his fortune in the 1990s through high-risk financial deals and controversial privatization ventures, including his involvement in Motoinvest, a firm accused of asset-stripping Czech banks. His wealth grew significantly when he shifted focus to the energy sector, buying up coal mines and power plants, particularly through his company Sev.en Energy. His business interests frequently intersect with politics, as he lobbies for policies that protect coal energy despite the government’s push toward renewables. Reports suggest he has used his wealth to influence political decisions, ensuring favorable regulatory conditions for his energy empire. Though he avoids public political involvement, his financial backing of certain political figures and quiet lobbying efforts have allowed him to shape Czech energy policy to his advantage.
Petr Kellner, once Czechia’s richest man, built his fortune through PPF Group, which he founded in the early 1990s by capitalizing on the country’s voucher privatization scheme. He initially focused on finance, turning PPF into a dominant force in banking, insurance, and consumer lending, before expanding into telecommunications, real estate, and media. His close ties to politicians across party lines allowed him to navigate regulatory environments favorably, with critics alleging that his business empire benefited from government decisions. His media holdings raised concerns about his influence on public discourse, as coverage of his ventures and political preferences was often seen as favorable. His deep business ties with China and Russia added another layer of controversy, particularly regarding Czechia’s foreign policy decisions. Kellner’s unexpected death in a 2021 helicopter crash left questions about the future of his empire and its political entanglements.
Challenge: Corruption
Over the past two decades, corruption in Czechia has remained a persistent issue, affecting politics at all levels—local, regional, and national. The misuse of public funds, bribery, and fraudulent procurement practices have been widespread, with EU subsidies frequently exploited by politicians and business elites. At the municipal level, one of the most infamous cases was the Opencard scandal in Prague, where a public transportation card system led to massive financial losses due to overpricing and favoritism, resulting in the conviction of former Mayor Tomáš Hudeček. At the regional level, corruption often revolved around EU structural funds, where manipulated tenders and collusion between officials and private interests led to misallocated resources. The rise of oligarchic influence has further complicated the political landscape, with figures like Andrej Babiš using their business empires to secure favorable policies and financial benefits while in government. Czechia’s ranking in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reflects these ongoing challenges; in 2023, the country scored 57 out of 100, ranking 41st globally, only a slight improvement from the previous year’s score of 56.
At the national level, high-profile corruption scandals have rocked the government, often exposing bribery, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power. One of the most significant cases was the downfall of Prime Minister Petr Nečas in 2013, triggered by a police raid that uncovered illegal surveillance and bribery linked to his chief of staff and mistress. More recently, former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was embroiled in the Stork’s nest case, where he was accused of fraudulently obtaining EU subsidies for a luxury resort while leading a government that distributed such funds. Despite ongoing investigations and scrutiny from EU institutions, Babiš remained a dominant political force, illustrating the difficulty of holding powerful figures accountable. While Czechia has made some progress in addressing corruption, the lack of comprehensive public data on the number of corruption cases per year underscores the need for greater transparency and systematic reporting. Public frustration remains high, as many perceive the legal system as slow and selective in prosecuting high-level corruption, reinforcing the need for stronger institutional reforms.