Changes in the Electoral Systems of Central and Eastern European Countries after 1989 – Analysis of Trends

Attention should be paid to the constant changes in electoral law in the discussed group of countries. They included the following elements of electoral law: replacement of the hybrid (mixed) system with a proportional system (Bulgaria in 1991), changes in the vote recount formula (Romania in 1992, Czech Republic in 2000), changes in the structure of electoral districts (Hungary in 2011, Bulgaria in 2001, Czech Republic in 2000 and 2002, Slovakia in 1998). Barrier clauses for individual groups and, especially for electoral coalitions, were frequently changed. A special case was the amendment of the electoral law in the Czech Republic in 2000 and in the Slovak Republic in 1998, which ended with rulings of the Constitutional Court (in 1999 in Slovakia and 2001 in the Czech Republic, respectively). Changes in electoral law – almost always – took place in the course of a fight between the parties. In the Czech case in 2000, the Slovak case in 1998 and the Hungarian case in 2011, they were carried out to hinder the alternation of power in the country.