Party for Life Security
Political party in the Czech Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Party for Life Security (Czech: Strana za životní jistoty, SŽJ) was a Czech political party that focused on Pensioner's issues.[1] It became widely known during 1998 Czech parliamentary election when it was expected to gain seats in Parliament.[2]
Eduard Kremlička
Marcela Kozerová
Party for Life Security Strana za životní jistoty | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leader | Josef Koníček Eduard Kremlička Marcela Kozerová |
| Founded | 22 December 1989 |
| Dissolved | 6 December 2005 |
| Merged into | Independent Democrats |
| Headquarters | Prague |
| Ideology | Pensioners' interests Social justice Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colours | Green |
| Party flag | |
 | |
History
SŽJ was established on 22 December 1989 as Pensioner's Movement for Life Security (Czech: Hnutí důchodců za životní jistoty, HDŽJ). Josef Koníček became the first leader of the Party. HDŽJ transformed into a political party in 1994 and changed its name to Pensioners for Life Security (Czech: Důchodci za životní jistoty,DŽJ). SŽJ participated in the 1996 parliamentary election in coalition with Czech Union of Women.[3] Eduard Kremlička became the leader of SŽJ after the election.
SŽJ started to rise in polls ahead of the 1998 parliamentary election and was expected to gain over 10% of the popular vote. Social Democrat leader Miloš Zeman started coalition talks with SŽJ and KSČM. Party leader Kremlička made a bet with a reporter that he would eat a bug if SŽJ failed to get over the 5% threshold, but SŽJ received only 3% and Kremlička had to eat a bug, which resulted in his expulsion from the party because other members of SŽJ concluded that he dishonored all pensioners.[4][5][6] SŽJ changed its name to Party for Life Security (Czech: Strana za životní jistoty, SŽJ). It merged with Independent Democrats in 2006.[7][8]