Czech Republic: Political Developments and Data in 2021. Historic Electoral Loss of the Left.

This report represents a contribution to the Political Data Yearbook, which is published yearly by European Journal of Political Research. Several important events occurred in Czech politics in 2021. The cabinet of Prime Minister Babiš primarily focused on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Four cabinet changes were made, two affecting the Health Minister and two affecting the Foreign Minister. The Constitutional Court repealed several sections of the electoral law governing the general election, leaving only a few months to pass a new electoral law before the next general election. In the October 2021 election, the SPOLU electoral alliance won the popular vote, while the governing party ANO gained the most seats under the new electoral law. The election was a disaster for left-wing parties, as Social Democrats and the Communists gained no seats in the lower house. A new coalition government, led by political science professor Petr Fiala, was formed at the end of 2021. President Zeman was hospitalised for several weeks, casting doubts about whether he was able to fulfil his presidential duties.