Czech Senate Elections

Now that the U.S. election has come and gone, it is time to broaden our horizons. I know absolutely nothing about the Czech political situation, but fortunately we have a correspondent with some expertise in the area. Over to consummate reporter/Vodka drinker Vaclav Podesil, a fellow I would like to convince to become a permanent contributor to this blog into the future: Some number (1/3 of 81 seats in the upper chamber of the parliament are being contested: Seats the governing Social-Democratic/"Labour" party won: 0 :-) Voter turnout in some districts: 6% Overall turnout: 18% 1 Friend's mother elected In the last elections to the European Parliament in June, the governing Social Democrats got a scant 8% and the governing "Union of Freedom"(federation of Bush asslickers, fifth columnists and losers/crooks) just over 1% votes, resulting in 0 mandates. Somehow, the "party" still managed to keep 3 ministers in the "new" government formed in August (2 of them on key positions). Seems that democracy does not work in the Czech basin. In any case, better than a two party system but.......the thing is that normally you don't have any choice between the tricksters- and that's why 20% still go communist, since the commies are the only ones who haven't got the chance to get dirty in privatization scandals and stuff in the 90's. Only now the situation has gone so bad - the government beeing unable to tackle basic economic issues (once underdeveloped Slovakia poised to takeover if no reforms are made soon), uneducated railway union leader-turned-interior minister-turned-prime minister creating a police state (Czech police forces poised to become the best paid in Europe, abuses of wiretapping rampant including leading oposition politicians).........tha tthe tide has turned and the majority is again voting for the Civics Democrats (ODS, conservative party). A star on the Czech political sky is our new "apolitical" president Vaclav Klaus, whose approval ratings reach almost 80% - despite his rather controversial past, now the only guy you can be proud of. *V.