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Czech Republic: Political Developments and Data in 2023

Legislative Battles: Pension Law Amendment and Opposition Obstructionism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

ALEŠ KUDRNÁČ and
IVAN PETRÚŠEK
ALEŠ KUDRNÁČ*
Affiliation:
Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
IVAN PETRÚŠEK
Affiliation:
Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
*
Email: ales.kudrnac@soc.cas.cz
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Abstract

The 2023 Czech presidential elections, characterized by high turnout and the victory of retired General Petr Pavel in a run-off against former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape. These elections were marked by intense debates on candidates’ backgrounds and foreign policy orientations, highlighting voters’ preference for pro-Western ideals. Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Petr Fiala witnessed four ministerial changes affecting the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry for European Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Several important legislative changes occurred in 2023. Notably, the pension amendment incited robust debate and opposition activity. Furthermore, the government's consolidation package, aimed at economic stabilization and public budget reduction, sparked protests, reflecting broader societal concerns over funding and labor conditions in schools and hospitals. The year ended with national mourning following a tragic mass shooting at Charles University in Prague.

Information

Type
Original Article
Information
Political Data Yearbook , Volume 63 , Issue 1 , December 2024, pp. 105 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © 2024 European Consortium for Political Research

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