Political Science and International Relations

Political system of the Czech Republic

Aim of lectureAim of lecture• To introduce to main characteristics of the Czech

political system• To explain process of transformation to democracy in

Czechoslovakia and the role of the military in it

AgendaAgenda• Institution of Political systém of the Czech republic• Civil and military relations in democracy• Democracy and Armed forces

Political system of the CRPolitical system of the CR• Chamber of deputies elected by proportional electoral system

gives confidence in the government• Senate Elected by majority electoral system has the function of

stabilizer and fuses• President elected directly by people – since 2013• The government appointed by the president on the basis of

voting in Parliament has executive power• Constitutional Court - judges appointed by the president, the

guarantor of the Constitution of the Czech Republic• The Constitution defines the functioning of the political system

can be changed by vote of a constitutional majority (both Houses of Parliament)

The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Czech Republic

• Chamber of deputies is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of the Czech Republic

• The members of the 200-seat house serve for four-year terms and are elected using the party list proportional representation system

• Every citizen of the Czech Republic aged at least 21 who has the right to vote is eligible to be elected.

• The Deputy may not hold the office of the Senator, the President of the CR or judge, which also applies to certain positions specified by law.

Senate of the Parliament of the Czech RepublicSenate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic• The Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic is the upper

chamber of the Parliament of the Czech Republic• The Senate has 81 members, elected for six years, every two

years one third of them, in one-seat constituencies through two rounds majority system (the second round is between two candidates with highest number of votes from the first round, if no candidate obtains 50+% majority in the first round)

• The Senate can delay a proposed law which was approved by the Chamber of Deputies but this veto can be overridden by an absolute majority (i.e. at least 101 of all 200 members) of the Chamber of Deputies in a repeated vote

• Senators have, together with MP's, the right to take part in election of judges of the Constitutional Court and may propose new laws.

Civil control of AFModels of civilian control and democratic control of the armed forces applied in democratic states often show relatively large differences. Still, however, there are some general features that are common to all models applicable. These include:

– A clear definition of the relationship between the armed forces, the society and its top-level authorities in the legal system of the country

– Subordination of the armed forces to the rule of law– Right of society in formulating decisions regarding the armed

forces through parliament and president elected by citizens– The primacy of civilian persons in enforcing policy decisions

expressed mostly civilian defense minister– Control of the armed forces through the free action of the

mass media

Czechoslovakia (1918-1938)Czechoslovakia (1918-1938)• The problem of building the armed forces on the different basis• Necessity of defining the military's role in the newly created state• Challenges to militarism, respectively problematic relationship of

the political elite towards the armed forces• Active involvement of the armed forces against internal threats• De-politicization of the army (the absence of voting rights for

soldiers)• The army is perceived as a potentially significant threat to the

democratic character of the state• Despite the de-politicization is a fairly strong political influence on

the armed forces and their character (and the political situation in Czechoslovakia)

Czechoslovakia (1938-1939)Czechoslovakia (1938-1939)

• Specific position of the armed forces in the post-Munich period

• The need to fundamentally redefine their role and abilities

• Sporadic participation in political power: military officials in ministerial positions of the government

• Unique attempt to use the armed forces as a tool of power in a political struggle (intervention against Slovak autonomist)

Czechoslovakia (1948-1989)Czechoslovakia (1948-1989)• Until 1989, the structure of relations policy - an Armed Forces based

on the dominance of the Communist Party• Minister of National Defense is general in active service• The Minister of Defense is involved in political decision-making

mainly by his position in the Communist Party• Chief of Army Staff is also the first deputy of Defense minister• Civilian political leadership intervenes in the management of the

army only in a limited extent. Wide management autonomy of Armed Forces. The Armed Forces have their own structure of military prosecutors and courts

• Priorities of the military policy are determined from the outside (the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty)

• Military policy measures discussed by the Council of national defense

Time of communist Time of communist regimeregime (1948-1989) (1948-1989)

• The situation culminated in February 1948 when the communists took over the government

• After the communist takeover the resignation on independent security and foreign policy followed and the era of total orientation on the U.S.S.R. began

• Cleaning of the officer corps started: almost 80% of officers were released, a lot of them were imprisoned or sent to uranium mines, some were executed. Particularly members of “western“ units were prosecuted

• Czechoslovakia began to build a massive, heavy and offensive armed forces under Soviet control

TTime of communist ime of communist regimeregime (1948-1989) (1948-1989)

• 1953: first open demonstrations against communist regime (harshly suppressed)

• 1955: Czechoslovakia signed the Warsaw Pact• Stalin´s death and followed partial release of international tension in

60´s allowed the limited democratisation in Czechoslovakia• January 1968: Czechoslovak public and political representation claimed

neutrality and "socialism with a human face„ (not Soviet political course) and Czechoslovakia started spiraling out of Soviet control

• 21st August 1968: invasion of the Warsaw Pact („fraternal assistance“)

TTime of communist ime of communist regimeregime (1948-1989 (1948-1989))• Despite the fact that 99% of soldiers refused invasion,

president and government ordered troops to stay in garrisons and to be neutral

• The government has been hijacked to Moscow and forced to sign the so-called Moscow Protocols, which cancelled democratic reforms a returned situation to the state before 1968

• April and August 1969: massive demonstrations suppressed by police, People's Militias and army

Party control of the Armed ForcesParty control of the Armed Forces• Strong political (ideological) control of the Armed Forces• The condition for military career is membership in a political party• The command structure of the army follows the structure of the

political workers, whose task was not only the political supervision of the preparation of the soldiers, as well as the organization of cultural and sports events

• Political control of the army is realized through military counterintelligence, which is not subject to military leadership. Counterintelligence is a part of an organization „Main Military Counterintelligence“ and is thus subordinated to civilian control of the Minister of the Interior

• Military counterintelligence perform also common tasks of military police

Armed Forces as represive power of stateArmed Forces as represive power of state• Active deployment of Armed Forces against civil unrest

in August 1969• Role in suppressing of internal unrest – Order of

Ministry of Defense for deployment of forces and means of AF to ensure peace and order in the territory of Czechoslovakia (1974)

• In November 1989 (Velvet Revolution), the military was preparing to implement "extraordinary security measures" and designated units were put on alert

TTime of changes (1989-1993)ime of changes (1989-1993)

• 17th November 1989 regime change started• Despite ideological indoctrination (82% officers were members of

the Communist Party) the army remained neutral and allowed the change of regime

• In December 1989 became Defense Minister the current Chief of General Staff Gen. Vacek, who is actively working with the new government and the president, he launched reforms in the Czech Armed Forces

• In 1990 Abolition of political structures within the Armed Forces• During 1990, around 10,000 soldiers left AF voluntarily (AF had

totally 210,000 people, which 61,000 soldiers), using the possibility of retirement or to change jobs

• 1991 Abolition of the Warsaw Pact

Czech Foreign and Security PolicyCzech Foreign and Security Policy

The contemporary foreign and security policy of the Czech Republic is based on preferring and strengthening of:Security (national) interests of the countryCollective defence (NATO) and cooperative security (OSCE, EU) structures and projectsTrans-Atlantic relations with the U.S. The active role in prevention of crises and armed conflicts and active engagement in their solution under the strict UNSC mandateHistorically the best relations with neighbours (especially Germany and Poland)Prevention or deterrence of armed attack against the CR

Political Setting:

White Paper on Defence (5/2011)White Paper on Defence (5/2011)

Security Strategy of the Czech Republic (9/2011)Security Strategy of the Czech Republic (9/2011)

Defence Strategy of the Czech Republic (9/2012)Defence Strategy of the Czech Republic (9/2012)

Legislative FrameworkLegislative Framework