Weekly Briefing, Vol. 45. No. 1 (CZ) November 2021
Congress of the Communist Party: A New Chance for the Left
Summary
On October 23, the extraordinary Congress of the Communist Party was held in Prague. The Congress was summoned after a crushing defeat in the election to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament that took place on October 8 and 9. For the first time in history, the Communists failed to gain mandates in the lower chamber. Nevertheless, the new leadership has taken over power which can contribute to the revival of the Party, giving a strong impetus to an overall reconstruction of the left-wing politics in the Czech Republic. Now, the Communist Party has a unique opportunity to take the lead on the left-wing political scene, given the objective decline of the Social Democratic Party.
Introduction
The Communist Party has had suffered from several serious problems for a long period. Even though it managed to play the strongest role after 1989 over the last years supporting the minority government cabinet led by Andrej Babiš, such political influence on the government policies just diverted attention from the existing problems. In the meanwhile, they became even graver. Both before and after 1989, the Communist Party has attempted to be a mass party, however, the post-1989 tendency has clearly demonstrated that such a vision is increasingly unrealistic.
Decline and support for the Government
The Party remains to be the largest in terms of membership having around 26 thousand members but the total number has been decreasing year after year. In 1990, the Communist Party had 756.120 members, in 1995 – 196.224 members, in 2000 – 120.673 members, in 2005 – 88.081 members, in 2010 – 61.990 members, and in 2015 – 42.994 members.[1] This continual decline is related to ageing of the membership accompanied by low numbers of new and young members. Undoubtedly, the decline will continue in the years to come. The leadership should, therefore, adjust to new circumstances and needs, restructuring the inner mechanisms and tactics. The election results did not coincide with the considerable decline of membership, thus indicating that the Party had certain potential to maintain public support, appeal to a part of the Czech society and gain support, especially among the citizens that held critical attitudes towards the liberal democratic system, its institutions, values or mainstream political parties. Nevertheless, the voters´ support has also been declining gradually after 2013.
| Election | Votes | Votes in % | Mandates |
| 1992 | 909.490 | 14.05 | 35 |
| 1996 | 626.136 | 10.33 | 22 |
| 1998 | 658.550 | 11.03 | 24 |
| 2002 | 882.653 | 18.51 | 41 |
| 2006 | 685.328 | 12.81 | 26 |
| 2010 | 589.765 | 11.27 | 26 |
| 2013 | 741.044 | 14.91 | 33 |
| 2017 | 393.100 | 7.76 | 15 |
| 2021 | 193.817 | 3.60 | 0 |
Table 1: Results of the Communist Party in the election
to the Chamber of Deputies in a diachronic perspective
Source: Czech Statistical Office, volby.cz
A new impetus to the Communists was given in 2018 when Andrej Babiš´ second cabinet was established. Given the leading ANO movement together with the Social Democratic Party had only 92 out of 200 chairs in the Chamber of Deputies, Andrej Babiš concluded an agreement on support with the Communist Party. Thanks to it, some points of the communist programme could have been realised. As a result of such a constellation, the dominant ANO movement adopted left-wing policies, thus weakening its left-wing partners – the Social Democrats and Communists. A part of the electorate of these two traditional subjects started to vote for Andrej Babiš. Owing to the specific role of the Communist Party between 2018 and 2021 connected with cooperation with the ruling cabinet, the image of the Party as a radical alternative to the liberal democratic actors has been weakened. Undoubtedly, the fading radicalism and social criticism were partially caused by the stagnating personnel policy. The Communist Party have had five chairmen since 1990. However, Vojtěch Filip who resigned at the Prague Congress in October held the post for 16 years since 2005. Notwithstanding the deepening problems inside the Party as well as obvious unsuccesses in the election to different assemblies and bodies including the Senate, local and regional governments or the European Parliament, the former leadership headed by Vojtěch Filip was repeatedly supported by the delegates. It could not but lead to a debacle. Indeed, it has come this year.
Reviving radical policies
The objective decline of the Communist Party over the last years, nevertheless, need not bring about fatal consequences. In October, the leadership was elected, having a strong mandate and, thus, legitimacy. The new chairwoman is Kateřina Konečná, the former Czech deputy (2002–2014) and the incumbent deputy of the European Parliament since 2014. Thanks to it, she has rich experience, being familiar with a broader, international context and perspective. Interestingly, Konečná will maintain the position in the European Parliament, which might be challenging and time-consuming. However, remaining the MEP, the chairwoman will have a stronger position. It is beyond any doubt that Konečná can become a symbol of a new era of the Communist Party, of a new tactic, new style, approach and methods of political work. All this is needed in order to make the Party relevant and strong again. The responsibility of the new leadership is, therefore, huge. Communists have to formulate a modern, radical programme to become clearly different from the Social Democrats or ANO movement. At the same time, they have a unique opportunity to take the lead on the left-wing political scene, taking the decline of the Social Democratic Party into consideration.
The new policies should be radical and transparent, critical to the existing liberal democratic establishment but consensual where possible. Obviously, Kateřina Konečná will pursue such a policy attempting to find a common ground and cooperate with other subjects, be they political or non-political ones.[2] This tactic could be employed next year within the framework of the local election. According to recent statements, Konečná will not oppose cooperation with the Social Democrats and making joint lists of candidates while maintaining formal independence.[3] Cooperation with the Social Democratic Party is, nevertheless, excluded at the level of election to the Chamber of Deputies, since the policy differences are considerable. Similarly, the Communists do not consider a scenario of merging with other subjects. The chairwoman has stressed repeatedly that there is a need for a radical social policy in our country. It is one of her priorities for the following months and years, including the introduction of a strongly progressive taxation system, imposition of a new tax burden on banks or transnational corporations, the establishment of cooperatives and employee-owned companies.[4] The Prague Congress has given a new impetus to a renewal of the Communist Party that can play a decisive role in the overall reconstruction of the left in the Czech Republic.
Social Democratic Party: Fading out
Whereas the Communists have already made the first steps to turn the game, the same does not apply to the Social Democratic Party, the oldest Czech political party, from which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seceded in 1921. The Social Democrats did not gain any seat in the lower chamber. The Party participated in the Andrej Babiš´ cabinet, influencing its policies and pushing the ANO movement to the left. However, the Social Democrats did not manage to capitalise on the participation in the ruling coalition. Instead, their position has been weakened due to internal friction and struggle between different cliques and individuals. There has also been disagreement about several fundamental political questions and the overall orientation. While some favour a transformation in a left-liberal way, others keep emphasising a conservative, traditional social democratic policy, first and foremost promotion of social rights and justice, defence of employees or a balanced foreign policy, rather critical of the US-dominated international structures.
Nevertheless, it seems obvious that in the case of opting for the first way, the Party will remain marginal, since there are other, stronger and more popular subjects that adhere to the left-liberal, progressivist policies, first and foremost, the Pirate Party. Therefore, the new leadership will be forced to formulate a new strategy and agenda for the future. The 43rd Congress will be held in December. From October until the Congress, the chairman position is not occupied because Jan Hamáček, who led the Party from 2018 to 2021, resigned after the crushing defeat in the recent election. At this moment, the deputy chairwoman and minister of labour and social affairs Jana Maláčová is known as the only candidate for the leading post.[5]
| Election | Votes | Votes in % | Mandates |
| 1992 | 422.736 | 6.53 | 16 |
| 1996 | 1.179.514 | 26.44 | 61 |
| 1998 | 1.928.660 | 32.31 | 74 |
| 2002 | 1.440.279 | 30.20 | 70 |
| 2006 | 1.728.827 | 32.32 | 74 |
| 2010 | 1.155.267 | 22.08 | 56 |
| 2013 | 1.016.829 | 20.45 | 50 |
| 2017 | 368.347 | 7.27 | 15 |
| 2021 | 250.397 | 4.65 | 0 |
Table 2: Results of the Social Democratic Party in the election to the Chamber of Deputies in a diachronic perspective
Source: Czech Statistical Office, volby.cz
Conclusion
The October Congress of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia has given a new impetus to a renewal of the Party that can play a decisive role in the overall reconstruction of the left in the Czech Republic after the significant defeat in the election to the Chamber of Deputies. Paradoxically, the situation of the Social Democratic Party could be more difficult in comparison with the Communists, since there is and will be a wide array of issues that are not interpreted in a consensual way among the Social Democrats. Even if the new leadership choose to revive the conservative social democratic policy, disputes will be emerging as far as the foreign policy and attitudes towards the European Union, NATO or cooperation with China and Russia are concerned. In this regard, the Communist Party could present more coherent, transparent and effective policies, which might contribute to becoming a leading left-wing force in the Czech Republic.
[1] Rogner, Š., Členská základna ODS je větší než ČSSD, z mladých uskupení nejvíce roste SPD (2021, July 22), ct24.ceskatelevize.cz. Retrieved November 01, 2021, from https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3344058-clenska-zakladna-ods-je-vetsi-nez-cssd-z-mladych-uskupeni-nejvice-roste-spd.
[2] KSČM má v čele poprvé ženu (2021, October 25), kscm.cz. Retrieved November 01, 2021, from https://www.kscm.cz/cs/aktualne/aktuality/kscm-ma-v-cele-poprve-zenu.
[3] Námluvy rudé a oranžové. Příští rok už společně, plánují KSČM i ČSSD (2021, October 25), kscm.cz. Retrieved November 01, 2021, from https://www.kscm.cz/cs/aktualne/aktuality/namluvy-rude-oranzove-pristi-rok-uz-spolecne-planuji-kscm-i-cssd.
[4] Šopfová, K., Konečná: Chci propojit levici, ne se hádat v KSČM (2021, October 26), novinky.cz. Retrieved November 02, 2021, from https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/clanek/konecna-chci-propojit-levici-ne-se-hadat-v-kscm-40376030.
[5] Předsednictvo ČSSD vzalo na vědomí rezignaci Jana Hamáčka na funkci předsedy ČSSD (2021, October 25), cssd.cz. Retrieved November 02, 2021, from https://cssd.cz/media/tiskove-zpravy/predsednictvo-cssd-vzalo-na-vedomi-rezignaci-jana-hamacka-na-funkci-predsedy-cssd/.