Civic Democrates Having Senate Advantage

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23 October 2006, 16:44 - Politics
Czech Civic Democrats (ODS) dominated the first round of Czech Senate. They advanced to a run-off next weekend in 26 out of the 27 districts as one third of the 81 Senate seats are being contested.

This lead boosted Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek as he calls for preliminary elections after June's elections to the Chamber of Deputies.

The election is a test of strength for the Civic Democrats and the rival leftist Social Democrats. The only solution of a crisis is a grand coalition but the will to do so is quite weak in both parties.

The Social Democrats have seven seats in the Senate and are defending just one of those seats in this election. They will field 11 candidates in the run-off and could make a substantial increase in their Senate seats.