The Czech Republic 1990–2001. Successful reform at the municipal level and a difficult birth of the intermediary government

Abstract

Just as in other countries of East Central Europe, also in the Czech Republic the transformation of the subnational government, its decentralization, deregulation and de-etatization, and particularly the introduction of territorial self-government, was an essential task in the process of re-building the political and administrative system after 1989. Two stages of the reform process can be roughly distinguished: the first took place in the early 1990s when the constitutional foundations of the subnational government were laid down and the local (municipal) tier was put in place. The second followed at the end of 1990s and in the early 2000s when the reform also embraced the intermediary tier of government. While the first stage was implemented relatively smoothly and its results have been encouraging, the second stage followed after considerable delay, had to be put through against resistance and its results have not as yet become fully stabilized. The approaching accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union, particularly expectations of the EC as regards the country’s ability to participate in the Union’s regional policy, have prompted finalization of the reform.