Election of the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic was held on 19 February 2020 following death of incumbent President Jaroslav Kubera. Civic Democratic Party nominated Miloà ¡ VystrÃÂil for the position of the new Senate President while the Mayors and Independents nominated the acting President Jià ÂàRà ¯à ¾iÃÂka. VystrÃÂil won the election with 52 votes against Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka's 21 votes.
Jaroslav Kubera was elected the new President of the Senate in 2018. He served as the President until his death on 20 January 2020. First quick talks about his possible successor started soon afterwards. Some voices within the Senate stated that the position of the President should remain the Civic Democratic Party. Member of Mayors and Independents Senate caucus Jan HornÃÂk stated that his caucus will seek to get the seat of the President of the Senate noting Jià ÂàRà ¯à ¾iÃÂka as possible candidate. Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka himself declared his interest. Independent senator Jitka Chalánková joined Senate caucus of the Civic Democratic Party following Kubera's death to support party's claim for the position of the President of the Senate.
Organisational Committee of Senate held meeting on 21 January 2020 to talk a term of the election and possible successor. It resulted with decision to not talk about Kubera's successor until Kubera is buried.
Miloà ¡ VystrÃÂil was nominated by the Civic Democratic Party on 4 February 2020. His candidacy was endorsed by KDU-ÃÂSL. Mayors and Independents on the other hand nominated Jià ÂàRà ¯à ¾iÃÂka. VystrÃÂil and Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka met on common press conference on 5 February 2020 to express their respect for each other and tell their vision on what kind of President of the Senate they want to be. Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka stated that he wants to be above political parties and serve more as an Independent President while VystrÃÂil statte he wants to continue in Kubera's work and to give to the position of the President an added value. ANO 2011 announced on 5 February that it will support VystrÃÂil's candidacy. Czech Social Democratic Party gave its support to Miloà ¡ VystrÃÂil on 6 February 2020. Senator 21 decided to endorse neither Candidate. Leader of Senator 21 Václav Láska stated that he considers both of them Good Candidates. In February 2020 Mayors and Independents (STAN) leadership endorsed VystrÃÂil for the position of the Senate President despite the fact that its Senate caucus nominated Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka. STAN leadership called Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka to withdraw from the election. Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka refused to withdraw from election noting that some senators reportedly told him they won't vote by their party endorsement giving Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka chance to win.
Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka and VystrÃÂil met for a Debate on 18 February 2020. They both agreed that Senate is an important balance of Czech constitutional system. They also stated that the election isn't as fatal as many believe it to be.
Voting was held on 19 February 2020. 4 Senators excused themselves from election. VystrÃÂil received 52 votes of 76 and became the new President.
VystrÃÂil stated that he considers it a Grand Honor to become the President of the Senate. Rà ¯à ¾iÃÂka admitted that he expected to receive more votes but congratulated VystrÃÂil stating that he believes VystrÃÂil will be a President who will fight for a good name of the Senate. He also expressed his Pleasure that the election was held Gentlemanly.