Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: (4) Each political party, political movement or coalition shall enclose to its candidate list a receipt confirming the payment of a contribution to election costs (hereinafter the ”contribution”) in the amount of CZK 19,000. Such contribution shall be paid by the political party, political movement or coalition in each electoral region in which it submits a candidate list and shall be transferred to a special account opened at the Czech National Bank by the regional authority no later than 72 days before the election date. Such contribution paid by the political party, political movement or coalition shall represent revenue of the state budget.
Source: Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 31.
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view
(2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship
Comments: Article 25: Any voter aged at least 21 years on the second day of the elections at the latest and not legally disqualified from exercising his/her right to vote in compliance with Article 2, Subsection b) may be elected to the Chamber of Deputies.
Source: Constitution: Constitution of the Czech Republic of December 16, 1992 (Amended by Act No. 515/2002 Coll.), art. 19.1
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Czech_Republic_2013?lang=en (2017)
Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 25.
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
e . In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments: Constitution: Art. 56 (5): Each and every citizen of the Czech Republic who has reached the age of 18 years is entitled to nominate a candidate provided that such a nomination is supported by a petition signed by at least 50.000 citizens of the Czech Republic who are entitled to vote for the President of the Republic. A candidate can be nominated by at least twenty Deputies of the Parliament or by at least ten Senators.
Electoral Law: Article 60: (1) Any registered political party and movement whose activities have not been suspended, including any coalition thereof, may register its candidates for the elections to the Senate through its authorized representative only. All independent candidates shall present their registration applications individually.
Source: Constitution as amended by Act 71/2012 Sb., art. 56 (5): https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Czech_Republic_2013?lang=en (2017);
Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 31 & 60.
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: Act of Law No. 424/1991: Paragraph 17: (4) Political parties and movements may have revenues from the following resources:
a) contributions to election expenses from the state budget of the Czech Republic,
b) allowance for operational expenses from the state budget of the Czech Republic,
c) membership fees,
d) donations and inheritance,
e) rentals and sales of tangible and intangible assets,
f) interest on deposits,
g) participation in business transactions of other legal entities pursuant to Section 3,
h) organization of raffles and cultural, social, sport, leisure, educational and political events,
i) loans and credits.
Electoral Law: Article 85: Contributions to election expenses are only provided in connection with the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. After verifying the results of the elections, the Chamber of Deputies shall inform the Ministry of Finance of the amount of valid votes obtained by individual political parties, movements and coalitions. Each political party, movement or coalition acquiring at least 1.5% of the overall amount of valid votes shall receive CZK 100.00 from the State Budget for every obtained vote.
Source: Act of Law No. 424/1991 Coll., of October 2nd, 1991, on association in political parties and political movements, as amended by 342/2006 Coll, para. 17.
http://www.psp.cz/en/docs/laws/1991/424.html (2017)
Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 85.
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Based on result of previous election
Comments: Article 85: Contributions to election expenses are only provided in connection with the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. After verifying the results of the elections, the Chamber of Deputies shall inform the Ministry of Finance of the amount of valid votes obtained by individual political parties, movements and coalitions. Each political party, movement or coalition acquiring at least 1.5% of the overall amount of valid votes shall receive CZK 100.00 from the State Budget for every obtained vote.
Source: Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 85. https://www.psp.cz/en/docs/laws/1995/247.html
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Paragraph 17: (4) Political parties and movements may have revenues from the following resources:
a) contributions to election expenses from the state budget of the Czech Republic,
b) allowance for operational expenses from the state budget of the Czech Republic,
c) membership fees,
d) donations and inheritance,
e) rentals and sales of tangible and intangible assets,
f) interest on deposits,
g) participation in business transactions of other legal entities pursuant to Section 3,
h) organization of raffles and cultural, social, sport, leisure, educational and political events,
i) loans and credits.
Source: Act of Law No. 424/1991 Coll., of October 2nd, 1991, on association in political parties and political movements, as amended by 342/2006 Coll, para. 17.
http://www.psp.cz/en/docs/laws/1991/424.html (2017)
Verified: 2023/09/18
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