Opposition party’s triumph in Senate elections could complicate matters for coalition

Political analysts have suggested that Saturday’s triumph by the opposition Social Democrats – in which the party gained a majority in the upper house – could indirectly impact austerity measures and reforms put forward by the government. With 41 out of 81 seats, the Social Democrats are now in a position to delay legislation as well as influence foreign policy, such as the planned increase of troops in Afghanistan, some analysts have said.

Shortly after the results were finalized on Saturday, Prime Minister Petr Nečas, the head of the Civic Democratic Party, stressed that his centre-right government would consult key reforms with the Leftist party but stressed that the overall responsibility for measures lay with the coalition, which won a broad mandate from voters in the general election in May.

Author: Jan Velinger