Alternative History
1983 Czechoslovak federal election
Flag of Czechoslovakia
 ← 1980
18 June 1983
1987 → 

All 300 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
151 seats needed for a majority
All 150 seats to the Senate

Party Leader % Seats ±
RS Václav Klaus 32.39% 102 20
ČSSD Jiří Horák 22.68% 80 27
ČSL Antonín Baudyš 6.50% 20 4
SD Miroslav Sládek 6.11% 19 8
LDS Miroslav Macek 5.48% 17 2
KSČ Gustáv Husák 4.98% 16 3
SĽS Michal Kováč 4.93% 14 3
SZ Milan Horáček 4.60% 13 New
ČSNS Bohuslav Kučera 4.12% 11 5
SDVP Franz Neubauer 2.49% 4 0
SMK-MKP László Dobos 2.10% 4 0

This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Czechoslovak federal election map 1983 (WFAC)
Winning party by district.

Prime Minister before election
Jiří Horák
ČSSD
Elected Prime Minister
Václav Klaus
RS

Federal elections were held in Czechoslovakia on 18 June 1983. All 300 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and all 150 seats in the Senate were up for election, with MPs elected by party-list proportional representation and all Senators elected by first-past-the-post voting.

The previous parliamentary term had begun in April 1980, when Alexander Dubček led the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) to a victory over the centre-right bloc led by the Republican Party (RS). However, by April 1982 he had resigned as Prime Minister, to be succeeded by Jiří Horák. Dubček had made agreements with the National Social Party (ČSNS), Christian Democrats (ČSL/SĽS) and the Communists, in order to remain in power, eventually expanding the government to a coalition government comprising the ČSSD, ČSNS and the ČSL/SĽS However, on 8 April 1983, the ČSL/SĽS declared after a long period of conflicts within the government over economic issues that they had lost political trust in the coalition and announced the resignation of all ČSL and SĽS ministers in Horák's cabinet. On 21 April 1983, Václav Klaus of the RS tabled a motion of no confidence in Horák's government, which was passed with 152 to 148, triggering a general election a year before the end of the government's term.

The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the Republican Party, securing 102 seats out of 300 and 32.39% of the votes, becoming the largest party for the first time since 1950. They gained seats in several Social Democratic strongholds in industrial Eastern and Central Bohemia that were held by the party for decades, which had formed the 'red wall'. Their electoral success was attributed to the Republicans broadening their appeal to working-class voters, Václav Klaus' popularity and charisma.

The "blue bloc" as a whole, comprising the RS, the ČSL/SĽS and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) won a parliamentary majority of 153 seats. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Horák and the ČSSD experienced their worst election result in its history, having only won 22.68% of the vote and 80 seats, a loss of 27 seats compared to the previous election. The ČSNS, Communists (KSČ) and ČSL/SĽS also experienced defeats. The Social Democratic electoral defeat was attributed to internal disputes in the party and the governing coalition and government fatigue after having been in power for 12 of the last 14 years, as well as encountered difficulties because of the emergence of the Greens. The national conservative and populist Free Democrats (SD), now led by Miroslav Sládek, made its breakthrough in national politics, obtaining 6.11% and 19 seats,

The general election of 1983 was to prove a political watershed. Most historians and commentators agree that the election of Klaus marked a break in post-war Czechoslovak history. The era from 1945 - 1983 had been characterised by a 'consensus' style of politics, in which the main parties mostly agreed on certain fundamental political issues and concepts such as the mixed economy, the role of the trades unions, the need for an incomes policy and the nature of the provision of public services such as health and education.

Background[]

In the previous election, held in 1980, Alexander Dubček and the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party formed a minority government. The 1980 federal election was a victory for the 'old' parties such as the ČSSD, the Republicans, the Christian Democrats, Communists and the ČSNS, and the election result was thus seen as a partial normalization of the political landscape after the landslide election of 1976.

The ČSSD won 107 seats in the election and was declared the winner of the election. It was quickly made clear that the right-wing opposition would not be able to muster a majority against a new government. A continuation of the ČSSD-RS government was ruled out, and a government comprising the ČSSD and ČSNS was made difficult by the Communist's reluctance to the ČSNS' income policy. The result was therefore a social democratic minority government under Alexander Dubček's leadership.

Dubček's cabinet was sworn in on 18 April 1980, and passed its investiture vote on 29 April 1980 with the support of the Communists, the ČSNS, the Christian Democrats, KAN and the German (SDVP) and Hungarian (SMK-MKP) minority parties. The cabinet enjoyed parliamentary support from the Communists, the ČSNS and KAN.

Political developments[]

The economic upturn of 1979 proved to be uneven and unrewarding, as the problems of the mid-1970s rapidly returned during 1980. The government had in 1979 decided on a contractionary fiscal policy and a devaluation strategy were chosen. While fiscal tightening increased unemployment, the short-term devaluations resulted in a improvement of the economic competitiveness that improved both the balance of payments and employment. However, the price was (in addition to falling wages) higher inflation, which gradually eliminated the gain.

Dubček was forced to continue the contractionary fiscal policy. A number of welfare cuts were carried out (resulting in increased unemployment). Large sections of the ČSSD increasingly opposed his security policy, while parts of the ČSNS and the Republicans and the ČSL/SĽS politicians supported that policy. The government launched several economic recovery plans and emergency crisis packages to put an immediate stop to increases in prices, incomes, profits, fees and dividends, with various parts of the crisis package were adopted by a changing majority in the Federal Assembly. Only the government and the ČSNS voted in favor of all the proposals.

By early 1981, Dubček faced the worst possible situation: the rising unemployment led to rising government deficits and thus increased government debt, which was further aggravated by the high level of interest rates and further price increases. Growth fell and unemployment rose, but inflation did not abate.

Dubček had to acknowledge that if the balance of payments had to be rectified, it required the government to set this goal above all others. Thus, one had to give up focusing on combating high unemployment, which had been the main priority of the ČSSD governments during the 1970s. In April 1981 the government reached a bipartisan agreement with ČSL/SĽS and ČSNS on federal budget cuts totalling CSK 4 billion public savings and consumption restrictions. The VAT was increased from 18% to 20% (though with financial compensation for pensioners in the form of higher pension benefits). The government's calculations predicted that state and municipal savings would result in the number of unemployed would reach 200,000 in 1981.

However, Dubček's minority government found it difficult to navigate in the the Federal Assembly, having to rely on different parties from case to case. As a result, Dubček decided to strengthen his parliamentary foundation by inviting the Christian Democrats (ČSL/SĽS) and the ČSNS into the government. After three weeks of negotiations Dubček announced that he would form a minority coalition government with the ČSL/SĽS and the ČSNS, relying on parliamentary support from the Communists. After the government passed an investiture vote on 21 September 1981, the new cabinet was sworn in on 24 September.

Although the government's previous economic crisis measures began to have a positive effect on the social economy, the government's main challenges and priorities remained to manage the economic balance problems and the social and societal consequences, including especially rising youth unemployment and the government deficits and debt.

After tough bargaining on both sides, Dubček did reach a budget agreement with the ČSL/SĽS, the ČSNS and the Communists in 1981. Together with the Communists, in March 1982, the government adopted the so-called March package (Březenový balíček), which consisted of employment-promoting measures for all, but with a special job and education guarantee for young people under 25. The capacity of youth education was to be expanded, as were learning programs and internships in companies financially supported by the government. The cost of the reform was estimated to be CSK 2 billion in 1982 and CSK 3.5 billion in 1983. In the same period, the government expected to save respectively CSK 1.3 billion on foreign aid and CSK 1.8 billion on unemployment benefits. The rest of the funding was left unresolved.

In April 1982, the government passed the Financial Aid Act (Act No. 132/1982) with the support of the Communists, which expanded injury and sickness benefits, pensions and unemployment benefits for Czechoslovakia's poorest citizens.

Horák replaces Dubček[]

While Dubček's personal approval ratings remained high despite a slight slip, the Republican Party raced out to a substantial lead over the ČSSD in opinion polls under their new leader Václav Klaus. By the beginning of 1982, it was obvious that the ČSSD would be defeated unless the party underwent a reorganization and renewal. While the other members of the Social Democratic leadership, comprising Jiří Horák, Marián Čalfa and Jiří Dienstbier, publicly endorsed Dubček to remain as prime minister, they were privately urging that he should resign before the 1983 election, in order to give the new leader time to settle into his role before the election campaign.

While Dubček personally favoured Dienstbier, who was young, popular and considered a rising star in the party, he was considered too inexperienced at executive level to be nominated Prime Minister at this time. Instead, the Political Board of the ČSSD chose to nominate Minister of Industry Horák for the position. On 13 April, Dubček announced he would not lead the ČSSD into the next election and that he would resign in favour of Horák. On 23 April he handed over power to Horák.

In September 1982 the government passed a tax bill in the Chamber of Deputies with the support of the ČSNS and the Communists. The bill consisted of tax increases on tobacco, spirits, sugar, chocolate, energy and car registration fees. The bill was supposed to contribute to the financing of the March package (Březenový balíček) of 1982, but by dampening demand, it also exceeded the package's employment objective.

Fall of Horák government[]

Almost throughout 1982, surveys had consistently indicated that the Republicans and the centre-right was on the verge of an majority in voter preferences and that particularly ČSSD, but also the ČSNS and the Christian Democrats had lost ground since 1980. This period was characterized by ever increasing unemployment, a steady erosion of support for Prime Minister Horák within his own party and a consolidation of the new party of the Greens around the issues of environment. In particular the strains within the ČSSD between the 'old', worker oriented, and the 'new', service class oriented, wings of the party contributed to give ČSSD a public image of inconsistency and controversy. Polls found that many left-wing voters found themselves attracted to the Communists and the Greens who spoke on these issues more clearly and consistently than the ČSSD. Moreover, the Greens had managed to gain representation in the Czech national assembly in 1982 (6.5% of the vote).

The government had cooperated with the Communists on the political settlements, but basically the ČSSD, the National Social Party, the Christian Democrats and the Communists pulled in different directions. The ČSL/SĽS wanted a tighter course of income policy, control of the state budget deficit and a tax reform, while the Communists had with the March package, stretched their 'political accountability' to the limit. The party simply could not accept any more austerity measures and budget cuts.

The ČSL/SĽS' support and later participation in government had eroded popular support for the party in the polls and widened the split among the parties' left and right wings. This culminated at the ČSL party leadership election on 12 February 1983, where the young Antonín Baudyš surprisingly defeated the incumbent leader František Toman. Unlike his predecessor, Baudyš represented the right wing of the party that favoured cooperation with the Republicans, which quickly became a source of tension within the coalition. Later, on 26 February 1983, the leader Michal Kováč managed only narrowly to defeat the more conservative and populist challenger Vladimír Mečiar.

On 5 April the ČSL/SĽS presented an economic policy proposal in the Federal Assembly that comprised budget consolidation, creating incentives for job-creating investments, curbing the exploding welfare costs and a deregulation. In response, the Communists announced that they would not support the government if the 1984 federal budget featured any more austerity measures. The OSČ (Odborové sdružení československé, Czechoslovak Trade Union Association) also urged the ČSSD not to accept the proposal.

Horák was now in a deadlock between the Communists on one hand and the Christian Democrats on the other. While Horák was keen on maintaining the coalition, he was also aware that the policies now proposed by the ČSL/SĽS was incompatible with the policies of the ČSSD. In a speech to the Chamber of Deputies on 8 April, Horák informed that while the proposal was incompatible with ČSSD policy, he urged the two parties to work closely on reaching a compromise. In response, both Baudyš and Kováč declared that he had lost political trust in the coalition with the ČSSD and ČSNS, and announced the resignation of all ČSL and SĽS ministers in Horák's cabinet.

Horák continued to lead a minority government composed only of ČSSD and ČSNS members while continuing the negotiations with members of the ČSL. While some ČSL members were continuing the negotiations with Horák, the rest of the ČSL/SĽS negotiated a coalition with the Republicans with Václav Klaus as prime minister. On 21 April, Klaus proposed a motion of no confidence which was supported by the ČSL/SĽS, the Liberal Democrats and the Free Democrats. The motion carried with 152 to 148.

On 25 April 1983, President Jiří Hájek dissolved the Federal Assembly and announced 18 June 1983 as election day.

Electoral system[]

The 300 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected from 25 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 at 4% threshold for single parties and 8% threshold for coalitions (requirements waived for national minorities). The members of the Senate 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 members of the Federal Assembly.

The Czechoslovak constitution states that elections to the Federal Assembly must be held every four years. Polling days in Czechoslovakia are on Saturdays. 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 25 April 1983, President Jiří Hájek dissolved the Federal Assembly and announced 18 June 1983 as election day.

Parties[]

The parties that had been elected to the Federal Assembly in the previous elections and still were represented had the right to participate in the federal elections - that is, they were automatically eligible for the election.

New parties wishing to participate in the election should send their application to the Minister of the Interior by 12:00 p.m. fifteen days before the election. Together with the application papers, the party had to submit a number of signatures corresponding at least to 1/300th of all valid votes cast at the last federal elections. In that election, 10,376,320 valid votes were cast, and a new party should therefore collect at least 34,588 signatures to become eligible for the election.

Parliamentary parties[]

Name Ideology Leader 1976 result
Chamber of Deputies Senate
Votes (%) Seats Votes (%) Seats
ČSSD Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party
Československá strana sociálně demokratická
Social democracy Jiří Horák 32.38%
107 / 300
29.60%
47 / 150
RS Republican Party
Republikánská strana
Social conservatism Václav Klaus 25.80%
82 / 300
25.58%
43 / 150
ČSL/SĽS ČSL Czechoslovak People's Party
Československá strana lidová
Christian democracy Antonín Baudyš 6.95%
24 / 300
6.88%
8 / 150
SĽS Slovak People's Party
Slovenská ľudová strana
Michal Kováč 5.46%
17 / 300
5.20%
14 / 150
SD Free Democrats
Svobodní demokraté
National conservatism
National liberalism
Federalism
Miroslav Sládek 4.31%
11 / 300
3.05%
5 / 150
ČSNS Czechoslovak National Social Party
Československá strana národně sociální
Socialist nationalism
Democratic socialism
Bohuslav Kučera 5.30%
16 / 300
4.61%
7 / 150
KSČ Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Komunistická strana Československa
Eurocommunism
Marxism–Leninism
Gustáv Husák 5.90%
19 / 300
6.14%
9 / 150
LDS Liberal Democratic Party
Liberální demokratická strana
Liberalism Miroslav Macek 5.14%
15 / 300
4.83%
8 / 150
KAN Club of Committed Non-Party Members
Klub angažovaných nestraníků
Syncretic politics
Direct democracy
Jan Štěpánek 1.46%
1 / 300
1.42%
1 / 150
SDVP Sudeten German People's Party
Sudetendeutsche Volkspartei
German minority interests Franz Neubauer 2.47%
4 / 300
2.27%
1 / 150
SMK-MKP Party of the Hungarian Community
Magyar Közösség Pártja–Strana maďarskej komunity
Hungarian minority politics László Dobos 2.07%
4 / 300
1.75%
1 / 150
Independents N/A N/A N/A N/A 3.11%
6 / 150

Parties not represented in the Federal Assembly[]

Name Ideology
SNS Slovak National Party
Slovenská národná strana
Slovak nationalism
National conservatism
Autonomism
SZ Green Party
Strana zelených
Green politics
KSD Communist Workers' Party
Komunistická strana dělnická
Communism
Marxism-Leninism
Maoism
D83 Democrats 83
Demokraté 83
Social democracy
Direct democracy
SSV Freedom Party
Strana svobody
Christian democracy
Republicanism
KSD Communist Workers' Party
Komunistická strana dělnická
Communism
Marxism-Leninism
Maoism
SZR Party of Common Sense
Strana zdravého rozumu
Conservatism
Federalism
LSU Party of Common Sense
Liberálně sociální unie
Social liberalism

Prime minister candidates[]

Portrait Name Most recent position Endorsed by
Jiří Horák Jiří Horák
(1924–2003)
Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia
(since 1982)
ČSSD, ČSNS, KSČ
Other positions
Federal Minister of Industry (1981–1982)
Leader of the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (since 1980)
Premier of Czechia (1969–1974, 1978–1981)
Václav Klaus 1990 Václav Klaus
(1940–)
Leader of the Republican Party
(since 1980)
RS, ČSL, SĽS, LDS
Other positions
Leader of the opposition (since 1980)
Federal Minister of the Interior (1978–1980)
Member of the Chamber of Deputies (since 1972)

Campaign[]

After the no confidence vote against Horák the ČSSD experienced a sudden rise in support and sympathy, obviously a result of the way the government had been ousted. This support manifested itself spectacularly in the beginning of the campaign, when the ČSSD surprisingly polled around 30%. These polls shocked the Republican leadership as well as the ČSL and SĽS temporarily, and for a while it even looked as if the ČSSD had a chance to maintain their mandate to govern.

The federal election of 1980 is widely recognized as lacking in divisive and decisive substantive issues. The same cannot be said for the 1983 election campaign which revolved around the issues of the state of the economy, the 'public philosophy' of the system (in the sense of cutting back on some of the exigencies of the welfare state, emphasizing more individual responsibilities and stressing a sense of moral and political renewal), the environment and nuclear power. The Czechoslovak economy was still affected by the many crises of the 1970s, and the economic issue overrode all others in importance, and on all dimensions of that issue the Republicans was way ahead of the ČSSD in competence ratings. The impact of this assessment was further strengthened by a willingness of large parts of the population to accept austerity measures provided they would help to reduce the number of unemployed and help the sluggish economy to regain momentum.

Horák and the ČSSD argued that Klaus' proposed "austerity policies" was similar to that of Conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, threatening that it would lead to "American conditions". The campaign of the Republicans, on the other hand, revolved around its leader Václav Klaus. The party used the slogan "You have the future in your hands" (Czech: Budoucnost máte ve svých rukou, Slovak: Budúcnosť máte vo svojich rukách). The whole campaign cost over 120 million CSK, a massive amount compared to previous election campaigns. Their election manifesto "Freedom and Prosperity" (Czech: Svoboda a prosperita, Slovak: Sloboda a prosperita) advocated partial or full privatizations of government-owned companies, freer reins for business, cutting expenditures as well as taxes, combat unemployment, reduce public deficits and start paying off foreign debt, to reduce government restrictions and regulations, improve the flexibility and performance of the labor market, and a reduction in the balance of payments deficit that had grown sharply during the crisis of the 1970s. Klaus attracted many voters due to his passion and charisma. During the campaign he was known for his calm and bureaucratic style, his understated gray suits, and for using a rhetorical style was characterized by a use of language and carefully articulated viewpoints that supporters considered intelligent and confident and opponents considered cold or even sarcastic and arrogant. Among the most memorable moments in the campaign were the heated debates between Klaus and Horák.

The ČSSD campaign was hampered by a series of industrial disputes, economic issues and government fatigue. Their election manifesto "Working for social justice and peace" (Czech: Práce pro sociální spravedlnost a mír, Slovak: Pracujeme pre sociálnu spravodlivosť a mier) emphasized issues like economic recovery, economic democracy and full employment. Additionally, the ČSSD encountered difficulties because of the emergence of the Greens. Led by the charismatic environmental activist Milan Horáček, the Greens were able to mobilize a whole array of voters frustrated by mainstream politics which were ignoring environmental issues, as well as the dangers of nuclear power. They campaigned on ecological and environmental wisdom, opposition to nuclear energy, nonviolence and direct democracy. They were also opposed to restrictions on immigration and reproductive rights and placing a higher priority on working for LGBT rights.

The Christian Democratic ČSL/SĽS endorsed Klaus as their candidate for prime minister and campaigned against abortion. However, the opinion polls during the campaign were no good omens for the ČSL/SĽS, with some polls predicting they would lose half its seats. Part of this was the result of Horák and the ČSSD campaigning heavily against the so-called "lidovci treason" (lidovci being the nickname of the ČSL/SĽS). The decision to leave and supporting Klaus' no-confidence vote against the Horák government had repelled centrist and left-leaning voters.

The Liberal Democratic Party also endorsed Klaus, and campaigned on a platform that attacked many aspects of the Czechoslovak welfare state. They advocated for the privatization of medical care, education and government-owned enterprises, as well as steep cuts in income tax.

The Free Democrats, now led by the charismatic Miroslav Sládek, struck a chord with those who felt disenfranchised by both the Social Democrats and the Republicans. The SD attacked many aspects of the Czechoslovak welfare state, and campaigned for steep cuts in income tax, halting immigration, support for the death penalty. Their campain also used resentment and fear of the Sudeten Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia in 1945, and positioned the party as the only protector of the nation.

The dialogue between the two leading prime ministerial candidates, Horák and Klaus, dominated the election campaign, marking a stronger personalization of politics. In the opinion of the voters, there were three important contentious issues the election in 1983: The abortion case, taxes and the economy, and social issues with emphasis on health care and elderly care. Compared to 1980, it was significant increase in interest in foreign and defense policy.

Electoral debates[]

The Czechoslovak federal broadcaster ČST organised four main debates during the election. ČST also broadcast a series of smaller debates with spokespeople from the ten biggest parties on various issues, including national security, healthcare, foreign policy and infrastructure, among others.

Czechoslovak federal election debates, 1983
Date Organiser     P  Present    NI  Non-invitee   A  Absent invitee 
ČSSD RS ČSL SĽS SD LDS ČSNS KSČ SDVP SMK-MKP KAN SZ
29 May ČST P
Horák
P
Klaus
P
Baudyš
P
Kováč
P
Sládek
P
Macek
P
Kučera
P
Husák
NI NI NI NI
5 June ČST P
Horák
P
Klaus
NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI
12 June ČST NI NI P
Baudyš
P
Kováč
P
Sládek
P
Macek
P
Kučera
P
Husák
P
Neubauer
P
Dobos
P
Štěpánek
P
Horáček
17 June ČST P
Horák
P
Klaus
P
Baudyš
P
Kováč
P
Sládek
P
Macek
P
Kučera
P
Husák
P
Neubauer
P
Dobos
P
Štěpánek
P
Horáček

Results[]

Chamber of Deputies[]


Summary of the 1983 Chamber of Deputies of Czechoslovakia election results
ČSFR Federal Chamber of Deputies election 1983 (WFAC)
Parties Popular vote Seats
Votes % ± Total ±
Republican Party (RS) 3,360,728 32.39% +6.59 pp 102 +20
Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) 2,353,335 22.68% –9.70 pp 80 –27
ČSL/SĽS Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL) 674,187 6.50% –0.46 pp 20 –4
Slovak People's Party (SĽS) 511,734 4.93% –0.53 pp 14 –3
Free Democrats (SD) 634,094 6.11% +1.80 pp 19 +8
Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) 568,332 5.48% +0.33 pp 17 +2
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) 517,242 4.98% –0.92 pp 16 –3
Green Party (SZ) 477,549 4.60% New 13 New
Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS) 427,001 4.12% –1.19 pp 11 –5
Sudeten German People's Party (SDVP) 258,438 2.49% +0.02 pp 4 0
Party of the Hungarian Community (SMK-MKP) 218,383 2.10% +0.03 pp 4 0
Club of Committed Non-Party Members (KAN) 132,916 1.28% –0.18 pp 0 –1
Slovak National Party (SNS) 66,819 0.64% +0.23 pp 0
Democrats 83 (D83) 49,862 0.48% New 0
Liberal-Social Union (LSU) 41,986 0.40% +0.15 pp 0
Freedom Party (SSV) 25,732 0.25% –0.37 pp 0
Communist Workers' Party (KSD) 19,261 0.19% –0.10 pp 0
Party of Common Sense (SZR) 17,554 0.17% +0.02% 0
Left Socialist Party (SSL) 14,570 0.14% –0.79% 0
Electoral groups and independents 6,596 0.06% –0.05 pp 0
Total 10,387,593 100.00% 300
Valid votes 10,376,320 99.89% –0.01 pp
Blank or invalid votes 11,273 0.11% Negative increase +0.01 pp
Votes cast / turnout 10,387,593 89.26% +0.65 pp
Abstentions 1,238,295 10.74% Positive decrease –0.65 pp
Registered voters 11,531,804


Popular Vote
RS
32.39%
ČSSD
22.68%
ČSL
6.50%
SD
6.11%
LDS
5.48%
KSČ
4.98%
SĽS
4.93%
SZ
4.60%
ČSNS
4.12%
SDVP
2.49%
SMK-MKP
2.10%
KAN
1.28%
Others
1.86%
Chamber of Deputies seat distribution
Centre-right bloc
(RS, ČSL, SĽS, LDS)
  
153
Opposition
(ČSSD, ČSNS, KSČ, SD, SZ)
  
139
Minority parties
(SDVP, SMK-MKP)
  
8


Results by state[]

Flag of the Czech Federal Republic (MGS) Czechia Slovakia Slovakia
# % Seats # % Seats
ČSSD 1,626,477 23.16% 55 726,858 22.30% 25
RS 2,342,801 33.36% 71 1,017,927 31.23% 31
ČSL 674,187 9.60% 20
SĽS 511,734 15.70% 14
KSČ 412,940 5.88% 11 104,302 3.20% 5
ČSNS 327,262 4.66% 9 99,739 3.06% 2
LDS 389,062 5.54% 12 179,270 5.50% 5
SZ 309,002 4.40% 10 168,547 2.40% 3
SD 451,565 6.43% 13 182,529 5.60% 6
SDVP 258,438 3.68% 4
SMK-MKP 218,383 6.70% 4
KAN 89,892 1.28% 0 43,025 1.32% 0
SSL 7,725 0.11% 0 6,845 0.21% 0
SSV 22,473 0.32% 0 3,259 0.10% 0
SNS 66,819 2.05% 0
KSD 14,046 0.20% 0 5,215 0.16% 0
SZR 8,427 0.12% 0 9,126 0.28% 0
LSU 40,030 0.57% 0 1,956 0.06% 0
D83 49,862 0.61% 0 7,023 0.10% 0
Others 5,618 0.08% 0 978 0.03% 0
Total 7,029,814 100.00% 205 3,357,779 100.00% 95
Valid votes 7,022,784 99.90% 3,353,536 99.87%
Blank or
invalid votes
7,030 0.10% 4,243 0.13%
Votes cast / turnout 7,029,814 89.30% 3,357,779 89.18%
Abstentions 842,318 10.70% 395,977 10.82%
Registered
voters
7,872,132 3,659,672



Senate[]


Summary of the 1983 Senate election results
ČSFR Federal Senate election 1983 (WFAC)
Parties Votes Seats
Votes % Total ±
Flag of the Czech Federal Republic (MGS) Czechia
Republican Party (RS) 2,237,828 32.08% 31 +10
Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) 1,755,802 25.17% 20 –6
Czechoslovak People's Party (ČSL) 578,989 8.30% 6 –2
Free Democrats (SD) 442,264 6.34% 5 +3
Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) 432,498 6.20% 5 +1
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) 341,115 4.89% 3 –2
Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS) 309,724 4.44% 3 –1
Green Party (SZ) 299,958 4.30% 3 New
Sudeten German People's Party (SDVP) 238,571 3.42% 1 0
Club of Committed Non-Party Members (KAN) 55,806 0.80% 0 –1
Democrats 83 (D83) 26,508 0.38% 0
Freedom Party (SSV) 20,927 0.30% 0
Liberal-Social Union (LSU) 17,439 0.25% 0
Communist Workers' Party (KSD) 14,649 0.21% 0
Party of Common Sense (SZR) 13,952 0.20% 0
Left Socialist Party (SSL) 12,556 0.18% 0
Independents 177,185 2.54% 1 0
Total in the Czech Federative Republic 6,990,453 100.00% 75
Valid votes 6,975,773 99.79%
Blank or invalid votes 14,680 0.21%
Votes cast / turnout 6,990,453 88.80%
Abstentions 881,679 11.20%
Registered voters 7,872,132
Slovakia Slovakia
Republican Party (RS) 1,041,840 32.41% 25 +3
Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) 706,240 21.97% 17 –4
Slovak People's Party (SĽS) 363,889 11.32% 9 –5
Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) 193,195 6.01% 5 +1
Party of the Hungarian Community (SMK-MKP) 190,302 5.92% 1 0
Free Democrats (SD) 189,016 5.88% 6 +3
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) 150,442 4.68% 3 –1
Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS) 127,940 3.98% 3 0
Green Party (SZ) 276,938 3.97% 6 New
Slovak National Party (SNS) 34,074 1.06% 0
Club of Committed Non-Party Members (KAN) 24,752 0.77% 0
Communist Workers' Party (KSD) 5,786 0.18% 0
Liberal-Social Union (LSU) 5,143 0.16% 0
Party of Common Sense (SZR) 4,500 0.14% 0
Freedom Party (SSV) 3,857 0.12% 0
Democrats 83 (D83) 7,673 0.11% 0
Left Socialist Party (SSL) 2,893 0.09% 0
Independents 39,539 1.23% 0 –3
Total in the Slovak Federative Republic 3,375,443 100.00% 75
Valid votes 3,368,022 99.78%
Blank or invalid votes 7,411 0.23%
Votes cast / turnout 3,375,443 88.04%
Abstentions 284,239 11.96%
Registered voters 3,659,672
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Federative Republic
Total 10,365,886 100.00% 150
Valid votes 10,343,795 99.79%
Blank or invalid votes 22,090 0.21%
Votes cast / turnout 10,365,886 88.56%
Abstentions 1,319,376 11.44%
Registered voters 11,531,804

Aftermath[]

The Republican Party won a landslide victory securing 102 seats out of 300, becoming the largest party for the first time since 1950. They gained seats in several Social Democratic strongholds in industrial Eastern and Central Bohemia that were held by the party for decades, which had formed the 'red wall'. Their electoral success was attributed to the Republicans broadening their appeal to working-class voters, Václav Klaus' popularity and charisma.

The right-wing populist Free Democrats made its breakthrough in national politics, obtaining 6.11% and 19 seats, up from 4.31% and 11 seats in 1980. The leadership and charisma of Miroslav Sládek was mentioned by political experts as the reason for their success. The LDS also had a successful election, having gained two seats for a total of 17 seats.

In the worst result for the party in its history, Jiří Horák and the ČSSD won 22.68% of the vote and 80 seats, a loss of 27 seats compared to the previous election. Their electoral defeat was attributed to internal disputes in the party and the governing coalition and government fatigue after having been in power for 12 of the last 14 years. While the party lost many centrist voters to the Republicans, they also lost voters to the Greens. Similarly, the ČSNS lost five seats, having suffered from a campaign lacking in enthusiasm and was influenced by government fatigue. The Communists also suffered setbacks, losing three seats for a total of 16.

The Christian Democrats in ČSL/SĽS, however, were punished for the manner they had left and thrown the governing Horák government. The ČSL won 20 seats (a loss of four seats) and the SĽS won 14 seats (a loss of three seats). The SĽS had also experienced internal disputes among the centrist line led by Michal Kováč and the populist wing led by Vladimír Mečiar.

This was also the first election in which the Greens secured representation in the Federal Assembly, winning 13 seats. They were able to mobilize a whole array of voters frustrated by mainstream politics which were ignoring environmental issues, and gained voters from both the ČSSD and the ČSNS.

As a whole, the establishment right-wing parties won a majority of 153 seats. The election marked the beginning of the right-wing wave (Czech and Slovak: pravicová vlna), with the growth of the Republicans as politics and Czechoslovak voters more generally seemed to move towards the right. The trend occured as part of a general international trend, where parties on the right in many countries experienced upswings and political breakthroughs.

Government formation[]

Following convention, incumbent Prime Minister Horák tendered his government's resignation to President Rechcígl on 19 June 1983. Horák's cabinet would remain in office as a caretaker government until a new government assumed office.

As a result of the election, the RS, ČSL/SĽS and the LDS enjoyed a sustainable majority in the Federal Assembly, nor with all the mandates of the center parties. Negotiations began on 19 June, and on 12 July Klaus announced that the Republicans had come to an agreement with the ČSL/SĽS and LDS. The four parties formed a majority government with Klaus as prime minister, which was sworn in on 15 July. The cabinet passed its investiture vote on 22 July 1983.

Investiture
Václav Klaus (RS)
Ballot → 22 July 1983
Required majority → 151 out of 300 YesY
Yes
RS (102)
ČSL (20)
SD (19)
LDS (17)
SĽS (14)
SDVP (4)
SMK-MKP (4)
180 / 300
No
ČSSD (79)
KSČ (16)
SZ (13)
ČSNS (11)
119 / 300
Abstentions
0 / 300
Absentees
ČSSD (1)
1 / 300

See also[]