The Relevance of Small Parties: From a General Framework to the Czech 'Opposition Agreement'

Abstract

After outlining the general question of the relevance of small parties, an attempt is made to characterize the situation that has emerged in the Czech Republic since the early parliamentary elections of June 1998. Following the elections, the two strongest parties (CSSD & ODS) reached a written agreement to limit the influence of small parties & make it easier to form a government. A modification of the electoral system in the Chamber of Deputies, as well as a significant strengthening of these two large parties at the expense of the small ones, would bring about a situation not particularly harmful to Czech democracy & perhaps quite the opposite, since it would contribute to the consolidation of democracy.