Party for the Open Society

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The Party for the Open Society (in Czech Strana pro otevřenou společnost, SOS) is a tiny social-liberal party in the Czech Republic.

Origin of the party was the Civic Movement (Občanské Hnutí), a liberal group founded in 1991 inside Civic Forum. In 1993 the party was renamed into the Free Democrats (Svobodní Demokraté). After a failure in elections in 1995 the party merged with the Liberal National Social Party into the Free Democrats-Liberal National Social Party (Svobodní Demokraté - Liberální strana národně sociální). After failure in 1996 elections, the Free Democrats left the party in 1997, and in 1998 formed the current Party for the Open Society. At this time SOS had 120-150 members.

Their programme mentions sustainable development as the most important point. During Czech legislative election, 2006 SOS had several members as candidates on Green Party list, none was elected.

As of 2006 SOS has local organisations in four regions (out of 13) and in Prague. Current number of active members is not published. Party website is kept up-to-date.

Soňa Paukrtová was elected as senator on 28th October 2006

[edit] See also

Liberalism in the Czech lands

[edit] External links

Party website (in Czech)
Details about cooperation with Greens (in Czech)

Political Parties in the Czech Republic
Chamber of Deputies (2006)	Civic Democratic Party (81) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (74) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (26) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (13) \| Green Party (6)
Senate (2006)	Civic Democratic Party (41) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (12) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (11) \| Caucus of Open Democracy (8 – 1 from each of Civic Democratic Alliance, Green Party, Freedom Union - Democratic Union, Liberal Reform Party, Party for the Open Society*, Path of Change, Civic Democratic Alliance and an independent candidate) \| Caucus SNK (7 – SNK European Democrats 3, Independents Movement 2, Independent Majors for Region 1, Movement of Independents for Harmonious Development of Municipalities and Towns 1) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (2)
European Parliament (2004)	Civic Democratic Party (9) \| Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (6) \| SNK Union of Independents (3) \| Czech Social Democratic Party (2) \| Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (2) \| Independents Movement (2, now split to Independent Democrats and Politics 21)
(latest elections)	(seats; * for Senators from tiny electoral parties who are not their members) Source: Czech Statistical Office, Senate