Selection of Candidates to the European Parliament in the Main Czech Political Parties

The paper analyzes the candidate selection procedure in Czech political parties before the elections to the European Parliament. It focuses on the four main Czech political parties: CSSD, KDU-CSL, KSCM and ODS. First, selection procedures are described. The description is based on the analysis of written documents (party statutes and statutes governing candidate selection procedures). Second, the article analyzes candidate selections by applying the classification framework set by Gideon Rahat and Reuven Hazan. This framework emphasizes four dimensions of candidate selection methods: candidacy, party electorates, decentralization, and voting/appointment systems. The findings from the analysis of written documents are compared with the results from a questionnaire survey conducted among the candidates. Candidate selection in CSSD and ODS was centralized in the hands of the narrow central executive and candidacy was limited to party members. On the other hand, candidate selection in KDU-CSL and KSCM was more decentralized, with final decisions taken by widely representative central party bodies.