Czech Communists Could Return to Power

The Czech Republic’s ruling conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Petr Nečas, has struggled to stay intact since shortly before Christmas. The group’s minority partner may abandon the coalition, bringing down the government and triggering national elections as early as this spring. Polls show that if the election were held today, the Social Democrats and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (commonly called the KSCM) would prevail.

To rule, the Social Democrats would need the Communists to join in a formal coalition, or give steady support in Parliament without being part of the government. Either way, the KSCM would have more clout than at any time since the old regime’s collapse in 1989. The party did well in October regional voting and now rules together with the Social Democrats in 10 of 13 regions, up from five after previous elections in 2008.