1958 Czechoslovak federal election (WFAC)

Federal elections were held in Czechoslovakia on 9 and 10 May November 1958. All 300 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and all 150 seats in the Chamber of Nations were up for election, with MPs elected by party-list proportional representation and all Senators elected by first-past-the-post voting. The Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party and the centre-left opposition, led by Václav Majer, ousted the incumbent centre-right government of Jozef Lettrich with a parliamentary majority of __ seats.

The election saw a 4.02% swing for the Social Democrats, which reflected the public mood for change. Majer became Prime Minister for the second time, heading a coalition government comprising the Social Democrats and the Socialists.

Background
In the previous election, held in 1954, Josef Černý of the Republican Party retained his position as prime minister after four years in power. His premiership additionally received the support of the Christian Democrats (ČSL/SĽS) and the Liberals. With a reduced majority, his cabinet was now reliant on parliamentary support of the Sudeten German minority party. The opposition, led by Václav Majer and his Social Democratic Party, won, which combined with the Socialist Party the Communists had secured __ of the 300 seats in the federal Chamber of Deputies.

Political developments
Černý was well into its second year of its second cabinet when the governent's budget proposal was presented to the Federal Assembly in October 1955. On 29 October the SDVP withdrew its legislative support to the budget. The government was initially able to carry on, but over the following weeks the SDVP grew increasingly restive, and on 3 November their leader, Erwin Zajiček, gave a speech advising his party to withdraw their support for Černý.

A leadership debate now emerged in the centre-right coalition and the Republican Party. In the summer of 1955 the Republican Party leadership had discussed with Černý whether the ageing prime minister should retire in the near future. Černý held a meeting with the deputy leaders Jozef Lettrich, Miloslav Rechcígl and Fedor Hodža on 5 November was careful to keep his options open. He could either retire now, retire in the New Year, fight the next election or step down as prime minister and continue serving in the Federal Assembly. He talked the matter over with his son Josef and other senior ministers. At a lunch with the party leadership on 10 November he favoured stepping down, favouring Lettrich as his successor. This was endorsed by the two Christian Democratic leaders. Subsequently, Černý announced his resignation on 12 November and was succeeded by Lettrich as prime minister on 19 November. After adjusting the budget to please the SDVP it was approved in the Federal Assembly, with 154 votes.

In the three years between coming to power and the federal election of 1958, Lettrich's cabinet had to a large degree continued the policies of the previous government. On social policy he had extended sickness insurance for workers (Act No. 54/1956) and for the Czechoslovak Armed Forces (Act No. 32/1957). The Czechoslovak economy had enjoyed a continuous growth, in what was later called the Czechoslovak economic miracle (Czech: Československý hospodářský zázrak). The economy recorded an average GDP growth rate of 5.1% per year between 1951 and 1963, with rates of growth coming in third only behind the German and Italian rates. Living standards also rose steadily, with the purchasing power of wages increasing by 68% from 1950 to 1960. However, the housing issue remained an issue.

Electoral system
The 300 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected from 14 multi-member constituencies (each usually electing between five and 25 members) using open list proportional representation, in which they could give preferential votes for up to four candidates on their chosen list. Seats were allocated using the d'Hondt method, with an electoral threshold a 4% threshold for single parties and 8% threshold for coalitions (requirements waived for national minorities). The members of the Chamber of Nations were elected using first-past-the-post voting in 150 single-member districts; 75 in each republic. To be included on a ballot, a senate candidate had to present 2,000 signatures of support from their constituents. Should a party have 151 or more deputies in the Chamber of Deputies, it has an absolute majority and can thus govern autonomously, without the need for support from other parties. The constitution can be amended with a super majority of two-thirds, or 301 deputies.

The Czechoslovak constitution states that elections to the Federal Assembly must be held every four years. Polling days in Czechoslovakia are Friday and Saturday, and voters could submit their ballots on either day. The exact date of the election was to be chosen by the President, who is obliged to call it at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the electoral term and ending on the day of its expiration. If the Chamber of Deputies were dissolved, elections should be held within 60 days of its dissolution. On 24 Feburary 1958 President Jan Masaryk announced 9 and 10 May 1958 as election days.

Election campaign
The Republican appeal to the electorate was simple: "You've never had it so good" (Czech: Nikdy jsi to neměl tak dobrý, Slovak: Nikdy si to nemal tak dobrý) was the Prime Minister's frequently-broadcast boast. The Republican manifesto, however, offered few new proposals. The Government, suffering from government fatigue, looked tired and increasingly out of step with the public mood. The opposition had a 3-4 point lead over the sitting government. The After Černý's retirement in 1955 Lettrich and deputy leader Rechcígl had begun reorganizing and rejuvenating the party organization of the Republicans to attract additional electorate, but the process had not been completed in time for the 1958 election.

The Social Democrats' slogan was "Work and security" (Czech and Slovak: Práce a bezpečnosti), and campaigned on a manifesto which offered voters an increase in pensions, the municipalisation of rented housing and completing the housing programme. Václav Majer was trumpeted as "the man with the plan" and Labour capitalised on the new medium of television that was transforming the public's perception of politics. More than 50% of Czechoslovak homes were now equipped with television sets.

The Czechoslovak and Slovak People's Parties campaigned on increased social benefits for families and regionalism, while the Liberal Democrats focused on tax breaks for small and medium-sized businesses. The Communists were on the defensive throughout the campaign, suffering from a backlash of the the Soviet military intervention in the. Thousands of their former voters now turned to the Social Democrats or the Socialists.

Chamber of Deputies
'''Summary of the 9–10 May 1958 Chamber of Deputies of Czechoslovakia election results ! colspan="9" align="center" | !style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Parties ! width=75px | Votes ! % ! +/ − ! Seats ! ± !style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Total valid votes ! 0 ! 100.00% ! 300 !style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Total ! 0 ! 100.00%
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * style="background-color:#F0001C"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#008542"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Republican Party (RS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * rowspan="2" style="background-color:#36454F"|
 * rowspan="2" style="text-align:left" | ČSL/SĽS
 * style="background-color:#ffe03e"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#5566CC"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Slovak People's Party (SĽS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#BF0202"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#F4C2C2"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Czechoslovak Socialist Party (ČSS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#003399"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Liberal Democratic Party (LDS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:black"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Sudeten German People's Party (SDVP)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:green"|
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:left"| Party of the Hungarian Community (SMK-MKP)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * colspan="4" style="text-align:left"| Electoral groups and independents
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * 0
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * 0
 * 0
 * colspan="4" style="text-align:left"| Electoral groups and independents
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * 0
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * style="background-color:#E9E9E9;"|
 * style="background-color:#E9E9E9;"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Blank or invalid votes
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * colspan="3" |
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * style="background-color:#E9E9E9;" colspan="3"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Registered voters and turnout
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * colspan="3"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Turnout in the Czech Federative Republic (Electorate: 0)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * colspan="3"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="4" width=395px | Turnout in the Slovak Federative Republic (Electorate: 0)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * colspan="3"|
 * }
 * 0.00%
 * colspan="3"|
 * }

Chamber of Nations
'''Summary of the 9–10 May 1958 Chamber of Nations election results ! colspan="8" align="center" | !style="text-align:left" colspan="2" | Parties !style="text-align:left" | Votes !style="text-align:left" | % of votes !style="text-align:left" | Seats ! ± !colspan="8" align="center"| Czechia ! 0 ! align="left" | 100.00% ! colspan="2" align="left" | 75 !colspan="8" align="center"| 🇸🇰 Slovakia ! 0 ! align="left" | 100.00% ! colspan="2" align="left" | 75 ! width="150px" | 0 ! width="40px" align="left" | 100.0% ! width="30px" colspan="2" align="left" | 150
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * style="background-color:#F0001C" width="1px"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#008542" width="1px"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Republican Party (RS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#ffe03e"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#BF0202"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#F4C2C2"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Czechoslovak Socialist Party (ČSS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#003399"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Liberal Democratic Party (LDS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:black"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Sudeten German People's Party (SDVP)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Independents
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="2"|Invalid or blank votes
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Czech Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.08% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="2"|Invalid or blank votes
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Czech Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.08% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Czech Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.08% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Czech Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.08% – electorate: 0)
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * style="background-color:#F0001C"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#008542"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Republican Party (RS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#5566CC"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Slovak People's Party (SĽS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#BF0202"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#F4C2C2"|
 * style="text-align:left" | Czechoslovak Socialist Party (ČSS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:#003399"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Liberal Democratic Party (LDS)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * style="background-color:green"|
 * style="text-align:left"| Party of the Hungarian Community (SMK-MKP)
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * colspan="2" style="text-align:left"| Independents
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * 0
 * 0
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="2"|Invalid or blank votes
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Slovak Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left" colspan="2"|Invalid or blank votes
 * 0
 * 0.00%
 * N/A
 * N/A
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Slovak Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Slovak Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total in the Slovak Federative Republic (Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * - style="background-color:#AAAAAA"
 * colspan="8"|
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total&emsp;(Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * style="text-align:left; " colspan="2"| Total&emsp;(Turnout: 0.00% – electorate: 0)
 * }

Aftermath
With a ____% swing and winning ____ seats, the Social Democratic Party was the biggest winner of the elections. The Socialist Party regained the loss from the last election and won ____ seats. The Social Democrats, together with the Socialists and with parliamentary support from the Communists and the two minority parties, had a workable majority of ____ seats.

The three parties from the previous coalition government – the Republicans, the Czechoslovak and Slovak People's Parties – lost a total of ___ seats, of which the Republicans lost ___ seats and suffered a drop of ___ percent. With a total of __ seats, the Republicans thus became the biggest opposition party. The Liberal Democrats, who had provided parliamentary support to the Lettrich cabinet, had a dissapointing election, losing _ seats and suffering a drop of ___ percent.

The Communists also had a disappointing election; the Soviet military intervention in the resulted in a fracture within the party of Western European countries, and suffered the loss of thousands of party members following the events in Hungary. Many of these would instead vote for the Social Democrats.

Government formation
Prime Minister Jozef Lettrich, following convention, announced his resignation after the election. President Masaryk then tasked Social Democratic leader Václav Majer with the formation of a new government. Lettrich's cabinet would remain in office as a caretaker government until ______, when Majer's cabinet, announced on 19 December, was sworn in. Majer thus became Prime Minister for the second time, heading a coalition government comprising the Social Democrats and the National Social Party, with the Communists and the two minority parties providing parliamentary support.