Cooperation and Merge
Although these two parties merged in 2006 they had already cooperated in coalition in the 2004 European Parliament Elections. They gained 11% of the vote and elected three MEPs – Josef Zieleniec, Jana Hybášková and Tomáš Zatloukal.
In February 2006 these two parties merged after long negotiations about terms of uniting in one new party. The result was that members of European democrats went over to the Union of Independents and this was renamed SNK European democrats. According to uniting treaties between SNK and ED this hasn't any formal chairman. But it was led by Josef Zieleniec as political leader (and primary face of parliament elections although he wasn't candidate) and Jan Kasl as executive vice chairman.
New party claimed itself as an alternative for voters which were tired by main political parties. But because of some tension between former SNK and ED members in new party and missing funds SNK European democrats' campaign in Chamber of Deputies was unsuccessful. They gained 2.1% of the vote, becoming the first non-parliamentary party.
After heavy failure in 2006 Chamber of Deputies elections was called the Republic assembly (the highest executive body of the party) and new and regular chairwoman was elected Jana Hybášková – one of party's MEPs.
Read more about this topic: SNK European Democrats
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