TOP 09
TOP 09 Tradice Odpovědnost Prosperita | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Karel Schwarzenberg |
| Founded | 11 June 2009 |
| Headquarters | Michnův palác, Újezd 450/40, 118 00 Prague 1 – Malá strana |
| Ideology | Fiscal conservatism Liberal conservatism Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre-right[1] |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| Colours | Purple [2] |
| Chamber of Deputies | 41 / 200
|
| Senate | 1 / 81
|
| European Parliament | 1 / 22
|
| Regional councils | 0 / 675
|
| Local councils | 6,580 / 62,178
|
| Website | |
| http://www.top09.cz/ | |
TOP 09 (name derived from Tradice Odpovědnost Prosperita 09, meaning "Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09") is a fiscally conservative political party in the Czech Republic, led by the incumbent Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and noted for its support of the free market and the European Union.[3] TOP 09 holds 41 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
The party was founded on 11 June 2009 by Miroslav Kalousek as a pro-free market split from the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party.[4] Leader Karel Schwarzenberg, who had first served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic nominated by the Green Party, became the party's first leader.[5]
Based on voting preferences polls, the party soon enjoyed popularity as the second strongest right-wing party (the Civic Democrats (ODS) being the first),[6] as was confirmed during 2010 parliament elections, where 16.70% voted for TOP 09 and 20.22% for ODS.[7]
TOP09 forms part of the current government together with the ODS and the Public Affairs. In this government TOP09 has five ministerial posts:
- Karel Schwarzenberg – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Miroslav Kalousek – Minister of Finance
- Jaromír Drábek – Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
- Leoš Heger – Minister of Health
- Jiří Besser – Minister of Culture
In September 2010 TOP09 applied to join the European People's Party as a member. Karel Schwarzenberg has already officially participated in two EPP summits (15 September[8] and 16 December 2010[9]). On 10 February 2011 TOP 09 has officially been granted permission to join the EPP.[10]
Influential MEP Jan Březina joined the party from KDU–ČSL in February 2012.[11]
References
- ^ http://fpc.org.uk/articles/536
- ^ Politika24
- ^ "Czech TOP 09 supports EU integration". Czech News Agency. 26 October 2009.
- ^ Template:De icon Klausmann, Alexandra (21 May 2010). "Tschechien: Jugend vereint gegen Linksparteien". Wiener Zeitung.
- ^ "Schwarzenberg to be Kalousek's Czech TOP 09 party leader". Czech News Agency. 11 June 2009.
- ^ "Volby 2010". Lidové noviny. Czech Republic. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ "Official results of election to the Parliament of the Czech Republic 2010". Volby.cz. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ administrator (16 September 2010). "EPP welcomes European Council conclusions; Roma issue should not be exploited". Epp.eu. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ administrator. "EPP official website". Epp.eu. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ "TOP 09 členem nejsilnější evropské strany – TOP 09". Top09.cz. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ Template:Cs icon Němec, Jan (8 February 2012). "Rána pro lidovce, známý europoslanec Březina je opouští". Aktuálně. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
