2019 Prague 9 by-election

A by-election for the Prague 9 Senate seat in the Czech Republic will be held on 5 and 6 April 2019. The incumbent Senator Zuzana Baudyšová, elected as a candidate of ANO 2011,[1] announced her resignation on 29 January 2019 due to health problems.[2][3] Jan Jarolím and David Smoljak advanced to the second round.[4] Smoljak was eventually elected the new Senator.

2019 Czech senate by-election

5 and 6 April 2019 12 and 13 April 2019

Candidate David Smoljak Jan Jarolím Party STAN ODS Popular vote 7,070 4,811 Percentage 59.5% 40.5%

Background

The previous election was held in 2014, with Zuzana Baudyšová elected the new Senator, nominated by ANO 2011.[5] She remained in the position until 29 January 2019, when she resigned due to health difficulties.[6] New election eas set for 5 and 6 April 2019.

Nominations closed on 18 February 2019, with ten candidates nominated. The Civic Democratic Party nominated Mayor of Prague 9 Jan Jarolím,[7] who also received support from Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party. Czech Pirate Party nominated local politician Petr Daubner, who also received support from the Czech Social Democratic Party and the Green Party.[8] Mayors and Independents nominated David Smoljak, a screenwriter and son of Ladislav Smoljak. TOP 09 nominated Martin Kroh. ANO 2011 nominated security specialist and lecturer Martin Hrubčík.[9]

Candidates

Candidate		Party	Notes
	Petr Daubner	Czech Pirate Party	Local politician. Also supported by Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party and Senator 21[10]
	Martin Hrubčík	ANO 2011	Chairman of Local ANO 2011.[10]
	Jan Jarolím	Civic Democratic Party	Mayor of Prague 9. Also supported by Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party and Svobodní.[10]
	Jiří Koskuba	Czech Sovereignty	Former Social Democratic MP.[10]
	Martin Kroh	TOP 09	Chairman of Czech association for Housing Development[10]
	Libor Michálek	Vision for Czechia	Former Czech Pirate Party Senator[11]
	Pavel Pešan	Freedom and Direct Democracy	Free Citizens candidate during 2014 European Parliament election.[10]
	David Smoljak	Mayors and Independents	Screenwriter and supporter of the party.[10]
	Eva Syková	For Health and Sport	Scientist and former Senator[11][12]
	Petr Šimůnek	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	Deputy Chairman of the Communist Party.[10]

Campaign

Petr Daubner announced his candidacy on 18 February 2019. He is nominated by the Czech Pirate Party and supported by Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party and Senator 21. He stated that he would focus on defence of democracy and education.[13]

David Smoljak announced his candidacy on 19 February 2019 as a nominee of Mayors and Independents.[14] Former Senator Libor Michálek also announced his candidacy on 19 February 2019. He previously served as a member of the Senate but was defeated in the 2018 election.[11]

Mayor of Prague 9 Jan Jarolím announced his candidacy on 28 February 2019. He is nominated by the Civic Democratic Party and supported by Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party and Svobodní. Jarolím stated that he wants to focus on the environment and support for municipalities if he gets elected.[15][16]

Former Social Democratic Senator for Prague 4 Eva Syková, who was defeated in the 2018 Senate election, is a candidate for Prague 9 Senator as the nominee of For Health and Sport.[17] She announced her candidacy on 27 February 2019.[11]

Jan Jarolím and David Smoljak advanced to the second round.[18]

Opinion polls

Knowledge of candidates

Date	Agency	Jan Jarolím (ODS)	Libor Michálek (Vize)	David Smoljak (STAN)	Martin Kroh (TOP09)	Eva Syková (PZS)	Petr Daubner (Piráti)	Petr Koskuba (ČS)	Martin Hrubčík (ANO)	Pavel Pešan (SPD)	Petr Šimůnek (KSČM)
25 March 2019	Phoenix Research[19]	26%	22%	11%	8%	8%	6%	6%	5%	5%	3%

Betting odds

Fortuna agency viewed Jan Jarolím as the front-runner due to his results in the 2018 municipal election, during which he led ODS to a clear victory in Prague 9 district. Petr Daubner and Martin Hrubčík were viewed as his strongest opponents.[20]

Results

Candidate		Party	1st round		2nd round
	Jan Jarolím	Civic Democratic Party, Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party	4,651	24.25	4,811	40.49
	David Smoljak	Mayors and Independents	4,514	23.53	7,070	59.50
	Petr Daubner	Czech Pirate Party, Czech Social Democratic Party, Green Party	2,674	13.94
	Martin Hrubčík	ANO 2011	2,391	12.46
	Martin Kroh	TOP 09	1.392	7.25
	Libor Michálek	Vision for Czechia	1,127	5.87
	Petr Šimůnek	Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	807	4.20
	Jiří Koskuba	Czech Sovereignty	678	3.53
	Pavel Pešan	Freedom and Direct Democracy	563	2.93
	Eva Syková	For Health and Sport	380	1.98
Total valid votes			19 177	99.63	11,881	99.56
Invalid votes			72	0.37	52	0.44
Total			19,249	100	11,933	100
Registered voters/turnout			104,235	18.48	104,225	11.45
Source:Czech Statistical Bureau[21]

References

1. "Senátorka za ANO Baudyšová rezignovala, Prahu 9 čekají doplňující volby". echo24.cz (in Czech). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
2. Pilous, Patrik (31 January 2019). "Doplňující senátní volby 2019 na Praze 9 za Baudyšovou". České volby (in Czech). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
3. "Senátorka za ANO Zuzana Baudyšová dnes složila svůj mandát". Deník N (in Czech). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
4. "Doplňovací volby: senátorem za Prahu 9 bude scenárista Smoljak, nebo starosta Jarolím". www.echo24.cz (in Czech). 6 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
5. "Baudyšová: Nadace je moje dítě, odchod pro mě bude velmi bolavý". iDNES.cz. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
6. "Senátorka Baudyšová rezignovala". Novinky.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
7. "ODS nasazuje do bitvy o senátora starostu Prahy 9. Kandiduje i scenárista Smoljak". www.echo24.cz (in Czech). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
8. "Ve volbách do Senátu v Praze 9 bude pravděpodobně deset kandidátů". Blesk.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
9. "Kdo za Baudyšovou? Senátorem za Prahu 9 chce být starosta, lékař i syn Smoljaka". Blesk.cz. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
10. "ČSSD se spojí s Piráty v senátních volbách, ODS s lidovci". Novinky.cz. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
11. "Exsenátor, který žádal rivala o křeslo bez boje, chce místo Baudyšové". iDNES.cz. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
12. Bereň, Michael (20 February 2019). "Senát chce zpět Hilšerův rival z Prahy 2. Kandidovat bude i Drahošova sokyně". Denik,cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 February 2019.
13. "Piráti: Kandidátem na senátora v obvodě Praha 9 je Petr Daubner". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
14. "Hnutí STAN do senátních voleb nasadí Davida Smoljaka". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
15. "Jarolím (ODS): Chci, aby města a obce získaly více peněz ze státního rozpočtu". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
16. s.r.o, TV PRAHA. "Starosta Prahy 9 Jarolím kandiduje do Senátu". prahatv.eu (in Czech). Retrieved 1 March 2019.
17. Janáková, Barbora. "Vědkyně Syková chce do Senátu za hnutí, které odmítá migranty a "nepřizpůsobivé". Nesouzním s nimi v každém detailu, říká". Deník N. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
18. "Z Prahy 9 do Senátu zamíří starosta Jarolím, nebo scenárista Smoljak. Dělilo je 137 hlasů". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 7 April 2019.
19. ""Jak se jmenuje? Neznám." Kromě zástupce ODS v Praze nemají tušení, kdo je chce zastupovat v Senátu". Parlamentní listy. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
20. "Senát PČR (Praha 9) – vítěz Jarolím Jan | Fortuna". www.ifortuna.cz. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
21. "Doplňovací volby do Senátu Parlamentu ČR konané dne 5.4. – 6.4.2019" (in Czech). Retrieved 20 March 2019.