2018 Zlín by-election

A by-election for the Zlín Senate seat in the Czech Republic was held on 18 and 19 May 2018 as a result of František Čuba's resignation. The second round was heldr 25 and 26 May 2018.[2] Michaela Blahová and Tomáš Goláň advanced to second round.[3] The election was surprisingly won by Tomáš Goláň. Voter turnout was very low.[4][5][6][7]

2018 Czech senate by-election

18 and 19 May 2018[1] 25 and 26 May 2018

Candidate Tomáš Goláň Michaela Blahová Party SEN 21 KDU–ČSL Popular vote 5,991 5,148 Percentage 53.8% 46.2%

Background

František Čuba was elected Senator in 2014 as a candidate of the Party of Civic Rights. He was absent in the Seate since 2016 due to his health. He announced on 15 February 2018 that he will resign on his seat.[8] He resigned on 28 February 2018.[9]

Parties started to look for its candidates soon after Čuba announced his intention to resign. ANO 2011 had its candidate chosen at the time of Čuba's resignation but refused to announce his name. Civic Democratic Party was considering possible candidates at the time. Mayors and Independents offered nomination to Mayor of Zlín Miroslav Adámek. Michaela Blahová was speculated as a candidate of the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party. Czech Social Democratic Party expressed intention to have its candidate.[10] Czech Pirate Party decided to find a candidate by publishing an advertisement in local media.[11] Tomáš Goláň announced his candidacy as a candidate of Senátor 21 on 22 March 2018. He stated he wants to prove that Senate is an important part of Czech Constitutional system.[12]

Nine candidates decided to run for the position. Miroslav Adámek was nominated by Mayors and Independents and supported by the Civic Democratic Party and TOP 09. Other candidates included Michaela Blahová nominated by KDU-ČSL, Michal Filip nominated by ANO 2011, Tomáš Goláň nominated by Senátor 21 or Radim Jünger nominated by ČSSD.[13] [14]

Campaign

First Round

Miroslav Adámek was considered front-runner of the election. Michal Filip and Michaela Blahová were considered his main rivals. Tomáš Goláň was also viewed as a strong candidate.[15]

Adámek's campaign cost 300,000 CZK. He published a video spot that received mixed responses and had 15 billboards set up. He refused to have meetings with voters.[16]

Goláň had the most expensive campaign. He had installed 17 billboards and three megaboards. His posters were also on 20 Trolleybuses and three Ticket Autommats. He held summer cinema at Čepkovo.[16] Goláň himself was very active at social media.[14]

Blahová focused on personal campaigning and social media. She also had posters at three bigboards, 50 yachts and 12 billboards.[16]

The first round was held on 18 and 19 May 2018. Michaela Blahová and Tomáš Goláň advanced to second round. Goláň's success was unexpected.[17] Miroslav Adámek admitted that he feels disappointment with his result but accepts it.[18] Michaela Blahová stated that her success might be caused by the fact that she was the only female candidate in the election. She noted she will continue personal campaign.[19] Goláň stated that his advancement to the second round was caused by jis campaign. He noted he will lead more intensive campaign for the second round.[14] Communist Party candidate Rafaja admitted he is disappointed with the result as he expected that he could advance to the second round.[20] Aleš Fuksa thanked Pirate Party for its support.[21]

Second round

Blahová visited bigger towns within the district. It includes Valašské Klobouky, Fryšták or Slušovice. Her campaign was supported by Pavel Fischer. Goláň also led personal campaign in bigger towns. He visited Fryšták, Vizovice, Slušovice, Valašské Klobouky or Zlín. He focused on voters of Miroslav Adámek and Aleš Fuksa. Goláň received endorsement from the Pirate Party.[22] He launched second phase of his campaign on 24 May when he campaigned in Zlín. He concluded his campaign on 25 May when he met citizens at Baťa's institute.[23]

Second round was held on 25 and 26 May 2018. First preliminary results showed candidates tied but Goláň started leading when more votes were counted. Goláň's supporters started celebrating when 70% of votes were counted and Goláň was leading. He eventually received 5,991 votes while Blahová only 5,148.[24]

Campaign finances

Candidate		Party	Money Spent
	Tomáš Goláň	Senátor 21	1,000,000 CZK
	Michaela Blahová	Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party	750,000 CZK
	Miroslav Adámek	Mayors and Independents	300,000 CZK
	Michal Filip	ANO 2011	300,000 CZK
	Radim Jünger	Czech Social Democratic Party	300,000 CZK
	Aleš Fuksa	Czech Pirate Party	100,000 CZK
	Lubomír Nečas	Party of Civic Rights	100,000 CZK
	Radomír Rafaja	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	50,000 CZK
[16]

Candidates

Candidate	Party		Notes
Miroslav Adámek		Mayors and Independents	Mayor of Zlín. Nominated by STAN and supported by the Civic Democratic Party, Freeholder Party of the Czech Republic and TOP 09. He was considered the front-runner.[25][15][26]
Michaela Blahová		Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party	Regional councillor who was a sole female candidate.[27][28]
Michal Filip		ANO 2011	Neurosurgeon and member of regional assembly.[29]
Aleš Fuksa		Czech Pirate Party	Journalist at Právo who was nominated by Pirates.[30][6]
Tomáš Goláň		Senátor 21	Tax adviser known for his opposition to politics of Andrej Babiš and fight against financial administration. Deník Referendum chose him as the Second greatest persona of 2017. He was considered outsider in the election.[15][6]
Radim Jünger		ČSSD	Surgeon and traumatologist. He was nominated by Social Democrats.[31]
Lubomír Nečas		Party of Civic Rights	Leader of the Party of Civic Rights he was supported by Freedom and Direct Democracy.[32]
Karel Nedbálek		Czech Sovereignty	Law and Economical adviser and teacher.[33]
Radomír Rafaja		Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	Communist Party local politician from Zlín.[34]
Zdeněk Vacek		Freedom and Direct Democracy	Member of regional assembly. He was nominated by far right SPD but his party failed to register him in time.[26]

Results

Candidate		Party	1st round		2nd round
	Tomáš Goláň	Senátor 21	3,234	18.99	5,991	53.78
	Michaela Blahová	Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party	4,118	24.18	5,148	46.22
	Miroslav Adámek	Mayors and Independents	2,786	16.36
	Michal Filip	ANO 2011	2,211	12.98
	Aleš Fuksa	Czech Pirate Party	1,559	9.15
	Radim Jünger	Czech Social Democratic Party	1,270	7.45
	Radomír Rafaja	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	896	5.26
	Lubomír Nečas	Party of Civic Rights	697	4.09
	Karel Nedbálek	Czech Sovereignty	254	1.49
Total valid votes			17,025	99.36	11,139	99.62
Invalid votes			109	0.64	42	0.38
Total			17,134	100	11,181	100
Registered voters/turnout			107,460	15.95	107,488	10.4
Source:Czech Statistical Bureau[35]

Aftermath

Goláň thanked Blahová for a correct campaign and stated he plans to focus on taxes and opposition to privatisation of some vital resources, including water.[36] Blahová stated she respects the result. She considered her result as a success because no candidate of KDU-ČSL advanced to the second round in previous elections.[37]

Goláň received appointment decree on 19 June 2018. His term ended in 2020.[38] Goláň's victory led to establishment of a new Senate Caucus called Caucus for Liberal Democracy. It consists of independent Senators.[39] He was reelected in 2020 Senate election defeating Pavel Stodůlka with 59% of votes.[40] He then joined the Civic Democratic Party.[41]

References

1. "Čubova nástupce zvolí lidé v květnu". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 March 2018.
2. "Čuba rezignoval na senátorský mandát. Volby musí být do června". iDNES.cz. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
3. "Čubu v Senátu vystřídá Blahová, nebo Goláň. Volební účast byla slabá". iDNES.cz. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
4. "Čubu v Senátu nahradí Goláň, hlasovat přišlo jen deset procent voličů". iDNES.cz. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
5. "Františka Čubu v Senátu nahradí nečekané jméno. Volby na Zlínsku vyhrál Tomáš Goláň, účast byla desetiprocentní". Zlín (in Czech). 26 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
6. "Pavel Stojar: Senátní volby 2018 na Zlínsku: jak vyhrál Tomáš Goláň". denikreferendum.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
7. "Překvapení senátní voleb: Primátor Adámek neuspěl, do druhého kola postupují Blahová a Goláň". Zlín (in Czech). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
8. "Čuba rezignuje na mandát. V Senátu nebyl rok a půl". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2 March 2018.
9. "Čuba po dlouhé absenci rezignoval na senátní mandát". Zprávy E15.cz. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
10. Zavadilová, Jana (28 February 2018). "Kdo nahradí Čubu v Senátu? Strany zatím jména hledají". Zlínský deník (in Czech). Retrieved 2 March 2018.
11. "Piráti zveřejní inzerát na místo věčně nepřítomného senátora Čuby". Expres.cz. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
12. "Tomáš Goláň kandiduje do Senátu. Jako první podrobně popsal zneužívání zajišťovacích příkazů Babišem". denikreferendum.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
13. "Adámek chce být senátorem, proti němu ve Zlíně kandidují další tři lékaři". iDNES.cz. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
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15. "Zlín volí nového senátora, tématy jsou dálnice a zdravotnictví". denikreferendum.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
16. "Zlínští kandidáti na senátora mají na kampaň od 50 tisíc korun do milionu". iDNES.cz. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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18. "Miroslav Adámek (STAN): Prohru v senátních volbách beru jako fakt". Zlínský deník (in Czech). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
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20. "Volby do senátu". zlin.kscm.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
21. "Pirátský kandidát na zlínského senátora Aleš Fuksa skončil pátý". Pirátské Listy. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
22. "Ve Zlíně lidé vybírají senátora, kandidáti si nechtějí navzájem brát voliče". iDNES.cz. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
23. "Nezávislý kandidát do Senátu Tomáš Goláň se chystá na zakončení své kontaktní kampaně". ZlínDnes.cz. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
24. "Lidé rozhodli. Novým senátorem je Tomáš Goláň". Zlin.cz - informační server pro Zlínský kraj. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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26. "Kdo bude senátorem místo Františka Čuby? O místa se uchází čtyři lékaři, SPD nestihla dát přihlášku". Zlín (in Czech). 3 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
27. "Kandidátka chce MHD pro seniory a děti zdarma, ale to v Senátu neovlivní". iDNES.cz. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
28. "Kdo nahradí Čubu? V doplňovacích senátních volbách na Zlínsku postoupili Bláhová a Goláň". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
29. "Osm mužů, jedna žena. Poslechněte si názory kandidátů, kteří chtějí v Senátu nahradit Františka Čubu". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
30. "U Pirátů je rozhodnuto. Do boje o původní Čubovo místo vyšlou novináře Fuksu". zlinsky.pirati.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
31. "Kandidát do Senátu varuje: Zdravotnictví potřebuje stabilizovat". TÝDEN.cz (in Czech). 19 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
32. "SPD v doplňujících senátních volbách podpoří Zemanovce Nečase". www.vlasteneckenoviny.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
33. "Osm mužů a jedna žena. Poslechněte si názory kandidátů, kteří chtějí v Senátu nahradit Františka Čubu". Zlín (in Czech). 18 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
34. "Zlín volí do Senátu, Rafaja si věří! - Haló noviny". www.halonoviny.cz. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
35. "Doplňovací volby do Senátu Parlamentu ČR konané dne 18.5. – 26.5.2018". volby.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
36. "Nový senátor Tomáš Goláň: Nejsem žádná paní Colombová". Zlínský deník (in Czech). 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
37. "Čubu v Senátu nahradí Goláň. Daňový poradce na Zlínsku porazil adeptku lidovců". Blesk.cz. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
38. "Nově zvolený senátor Goláň převzal jmenovací dekret". TÝDEN.cz (in Czech). 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
39. televize, Česká. "Obměna na Zlínsku pomohla bezprizorným senátorům. Založili nový klub, předsedou je Láska". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
40. "Goláň uhájil senátní křeslo za Zlínsko, Bazala na Slovácku sesadil Valentu". iDNES.cz. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
41. Martináková, Alex. "Vstup do ODS". Tomáš Goláň (in Czech). Retrieved 27 November 2020.