2019 Prague 9 by-election

2019 Czech senate by-election
5 and 6 April 2019
12 and 13 April 2019
  First party Second party
 
Candidate David Smoljak Jan Jarolím
Party STAN ODS
Popular vote 7,070 4,811
Percentage 59.5% 40.5%
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A by-election was held in the Czech Republic on 5 and 6 April 2019 for the Prague 9 Senate seat. The incumbent Senator Zuzana Baudyšová, elected as a candidate of ANO 2011,[1] announced her resignation on 29 January 2019 due to health problems.[2][3] Jan Jarolím and David Smoljak advanced to the second round.[4] Smoljak was eventually elected the new Senator.

Background

The previous election was held in 2014, with Baudyšová elected the new Senator, nominated by ANO 2011.[5] She resigned from the position on 29 January 2019, due to health difficulties.[6] The new election was set for 5 and 6 April 2019.

Nominations closed on 18 February 2019, with ten candidates nominated. The Civic Democratic Party nominated Mayor of Prague 9 Jan Jarolím,[7] who also received support from the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party. The Czech Pirate Party nominated local politician Petr Daubner, who was also endorsed by the Czech Social Democratic Party and the Green Party.[8] Mayors and Independents nominated David Smoljak, a screenwriter and son of Ladislav Smoljak. TOP 09 nominated Martin Kroh. ANO 2011 nominated security specialist and lecturer Martin Hrubčík.[9]

Candidates

Candidate Party Notes
Petr Daubner Czech Pirate Party Local politician. Also supported by Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party and Senator 21[10]
Martin Hrubčík ANO 2011 Chairman of Local ANO 2011.[10]
Jan Jarolím Civic Democratic Party Mayor of Prague 9. Also supported by Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party and Svobodní.[10]
Jiří Koskuba Czech Sovereignty Former Social Democratic MP.[10]
Martin Kroh TOP 09 Chairman of Czech association for Housing Development[10]
Libor Michálek Vision for Czechia Former Czech Pirate Party Senator[11]
Pavel Pešan Freedom and Direct Democracy Free Citizens candidate during 2014 European Parliament election.[10]
David Smoljak Mayors and Independents Screenwriter and supporter of the party.[10]
Eva Syková For Health and Sport Scientist and former Senator[11][12]
Petr Šimůnek Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Deputy Chairman of the Communist Party.[10]

Campaign

Petr Daubner announced his candidacy on 18 February 2019. He was nominated by the Czech Pirate Party and supported by Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party and Senator 21. He stated that he would focus on defence of democracy and education.[13]

David Smoljak announced his candidacy on 19 February 2019 as a nominee of Mayors and Independents.[14] Former Senator Libor Michálek also announced his candidacy on 19 February 2019. He had previously served as a member of the Senate but was defeated in the 2018 election.[11]

Mayor of Prague 9 Jan Jarolím announced his candidacy on 28 February 2019. He was nominated by the Civic Democratic Party and supported by Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party and Svobodní. Jarolím stated that, if elected, he wanted to focus on the environment and support for municipalities.[15][16]

Former Social Democratic Senator for Prague 4 Eva Syková, who was defeated in the 2018 Senate election, was a candidate for Prague 9 Senator as the nominee of For Health and Sport.[17] She announced her candidacy on 27 February 2019.[11]

Jan Jarolím and David Smoljak advanced to the second round.[18]

Opinion polls

Knowledge of candidates

Date Agency Jan Jarolím
(ODS)		 Libor Michálek
(Vize)		 David Smoljak
(STAN)		 Martin Kroh
(TOP09)		 Eva Syková
(PZS)		 Petr Daubner
(Piráti)		 Petr Koskuba
(ČS)		 Martin Hrubčík
(ANO)		 Pavel Pešan
(SPD)		 Petr Šimůnek
(KSČM)
25 March 2019 Phoenix Research[19] 26% 22% 11% 8% 8% 6% 6% 5% 5% 3%

Betting odds

Fortuna agency viewed Jan Jarolím as the frontrunner due to his results in the 2018 municipal election, during which he led ODS to a clear victory in Prague 9 district. Petr Daubner and Martin Hrubčík were viewed as his strongest opponents.[20]

Results

Candidate Party 1st round 2nd round
Jan Jarolím Civic Democratic Party, Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party 4,651 24.25 4,811 40.49
David Smoljak Mayors and Independents 4,514 23.53 7,070 59.50
Petr Daubner Czech Pirate Party, Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party 2,674 13.94
Martin Hrubčík ANO 2011 2,391 12.46
Martin Kroh TOP 09 1.392 7.25
Libor Michálek Vision for Czechia 1,127 5.87
Petr Šimůnek Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia 807 4.20
Jiří Koskuba Czech Sovereignty 678 3.53
Pavel Pešan Freedom and Direct Democracy 563 2.93
Eva Syková For Health and Sport 380 1.98
Total valid votes 19 177 99.63 11,881 99.56
Invalid votes 72 0.37 52 0.44
Total 19,249 100 11,933 100
Registered voters/turnout 104,235 18.48 104,225 11.45
Source:Czech Statistical Bureau[21]

References

  1. ^ "Senátorka za ANO Baudyšová rezignovala, Prahu 9 čekají doplňující volby". echo24.cz (in Czech). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  2. ^ Pilous, Patrik (31 January 2019). "Doplňující senátní volby 2019 na Praze 9 za Baudyšovou". České volby (in Czech). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Senátorka za ANO Zuzana Baudyšová dnes složila svůj mandát". Deník N (in Czech). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Doplňovací volby: senátorem za Prahu 9 bude scenárista Smoljak, nebo starosta Jarolím". Echo24.cz (in Czech). 6 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Baudyšová: Nadace je moje dítě, odchod pro mě bude velmi bolavý". iDNES.cz. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Senátorka Baudyšová rezignovala". Novinky.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  7. ^ "ODS nasazuje do bitvy o senátora starostu Prahy 9. Kandiduje i scenárista Smoljak". Echo24.cz (in Czech). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Ve volbách do Senátu v Praze 9 bude pravděpodobně deset kandidátů". Blesk.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Kdo za Baudyšovou? Senátorem za Prahu 9 chce být starosta, lékař i syn Smoljaka". Blesk.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "ČSSD se spojí s Piráty v senátních volbách, ODS s lidovci". Novinky.cz. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d "Exsenátor, který žádal rivala o křeslo bez boje, chce místo Baudyšové". iDNES.cz. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  12. ^ Bereň, Michael (20 February 2019). "Senát chce zpět Hilšerův rival z Prahy 2. Kandidovat bude i Drahošova sokyně". Denik.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Piráti: Kandidátem na senátora v obvodě Praha 9 je Petr Daubner". ParlamentníListy.cz. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Hnutí STAN do senátních voleb nasadí Davida Smoljaka". ParlamentníListy.cz. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Jarolím (ODS): Chci, aby města a obce získaly více peněz ze státního rozpočtu". ParlamentníListy.cz. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Starosta Prahy 9 Jarolím kandiduje do Senátu". prahatv.eu (in Czech). TV PRAHA s.r.o. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  17. ^ Janáková, Barbora. "Vědkyně Syková chce do Senátu za hnutí, které odmítá migranty a "nepřizpůsobivé". Nesouzním s nimi v každém detailu, říká". Deník N. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Z Prahy 9 do Senátu zamíří starosta Jarolím, nebo scenárista Smoljak. Dělilo je 137 hlasů". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  19. ^ ""Jak se jmenuje? Neznám." Kromě zástupce ODS v Praze nemají tušení, kdo je chce zastupovat v Senátu". Parlamentní listy. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Senát PČR (Praha 9) – vítěz Jarolím Jan". ifortuna.cz. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Doplňovací volby do Senátu Parlamentu ČR konané dne 5.4. – 6.4.2019" (in Czech). Retrieved 20 March 2019.