Yesterday was St. Medard Day and as the saying goes, “Medardova kápě čtyřicet dní kape” (Medard’s cape drips for forty days). I found the saying in English as well: “Should St. Medard’s Day be wet, it will rain for forty yet”. This Medard guy is usually pretty consistent and, as far as I remember, June 8 is a rainy day more often than not. Well, did it rain yesterday? It didn’t! Apparently we’re in for a nice, dry and sunny month. And it’s about time. After the beautiful first three weeks of May, we were thrown back into March with its rain, wind and 12-degree temperatures. I couldn’t believe it when I was turning our heater on (and praying it would work) on June 2. Yesterday was finally quite warm and sunny and it seems it’s only going to get better. Summer is less than two weeks away.

The voting is over and the results are in for the fourth elections to the Chamber of Deputies since the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. There was a higher voter turnout this year (64.5%) than four years ago (59%). The center-right ODS (Civic Democrats) won the elections with 35.38% of the vote and center-left ČSSD (Social Democrats) came in second with 32.32%. This is after eight years of ČSSD in power.

When converting the percentages into the number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, it looks unlikely that a majority government will be formed. The Civic Democrats/Christian Democrats/Green Party coalition would only get 100 seats, which is the same number the Social Democrats/Communist Party coalition would have. ODS will begin negotiations and has not ruled out a grand coalition with ČSSD.

I have linked to some news articles below:

ČTK (Czech News Agency)
Topolanek has ambition to form govt, does not exclude CSSD
Chances to form coalition govt slim — analysts
ODS wins elections, left has half seats in lower house

BBC News
Czech election ends in deadlock

CNN
Czechs face post-election deadlock

The Czech parliamentary elections have arrived and voting takes place today and tomorrow. If you would like to read about the Czech political parties and the main issues, BBC News has a good summary on their Q&A: Czech election page. There is also a news article about the campaign.