May 26 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic holds a parliamentary
election on Friday and Saturday in which the left-wing Social
Democrats will likely win the most votes but may find it
difficult to find partners to form a government.
Opinion polls predict a very close result between leftist
and centre-right parties -- a common outcome in the central
European country -- that may lead to a lengthy coalition
building.
Here is a timeline of events since the first elections after
the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993, which led to the Czech
Republic's independence:
June 1996 - Vaclav Klaus reappointed prime minister in first
election since independence, leading minority coalition cabinet.
November 1997 - Klaus resigns following the collapse of the
coalition. Non-partisan former central bank chief Josef Tosovsky
leads a caretaker administration.
Jan. 20, 1998 - Vaclav Havel re-elected by parliament for a
second five-year term as president.
June 1998 - Leftist Social Democrats (CSSD) win early
elections and form a minority cabinet led by Milos Zeman, backed
by the right-wing Civic Democrats.
March 1999 - The Czech Republic joins NATO.
September 1999 - The country jumps out of a recession in Q2
after five quarters of contraction. Growth accelerates to a peak
of 7.0 percent in 2007.
June 15-16, 2002 - The CSSD led by Vladimir Spidla comes top
in elections, but wins only 70 seats in the 200-seat parliament.
Spidla forms coalition with centrist alliance of Christian
Democrats and the Freedom Union, which has 101 seats.
Feb. 28, 2003 - Vaclav Klaus is elected president.
May 1, 2004 - Czechs join the European Union following a
referendum in June 2003.
Aug. 4, 2004 - Klaus appoints centre-left coalition
government of Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, 39 days Spidla
quit. The make-up of the ruling coalition remains the same.
April 25, 2005 - Gross resigns over a scandal involving his
personal finances. Gross's Social Democrat colleague Jiri
Paroubek is appointed prime minister.
June 4, 2006 - The Civic Democrats win the biggest share of
votes in election, but not a majority in the lower house of
parliament. Centre-right and left-wing parties win 100 seats
each in the 200-seat house.
Nov. 8, 2006 - Klaus appoints rightist leader Mirek
Topolanek as prime minister for the second time since the
inconclusive June election left parliament deadlocked. Topolanek
was first appointed to the post in August.
Jan. 19, 2007 - Topolanek's new centre-right government
narrowly wins a confidence vote, ending political deadlock.
Feb. 15, 2008 - Klaus elected for second five-year
presidential term.
July 9, 2008 - The United States signs a pact to build part
of a U.S. missile defence shield in the Czech Republic,
prompting Russia to say it would react with military means if
the shield was deployed. U.S. President Barack Obama dropped
plans to deploy the shield on Czech territory in September 2009.
The Czech lower house never ratified the agreement.
Jan. 1, 2009 - Czech Republic takes over the rotating EU
presidency for six months.
March 24, 2009 - Topolanek's government falls after
defectors joined forces with the leftist opposition Social
Democrats in a no-confidence motion.
May 2009 - Civic Democrats and Social Democrats agree to
back caretaker cabinet, led by non-partisan Jan Fischer.
March 11, 2010 - The Czech economy contracted by 4.1 percent
in 2009 as the global crisis hit demand for Czech exports, and
the Finance Ministry predicted 1.5 percent growth this year.
May 28-29, 2010 - Parliamentary elections.
