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Volt Europa: A New Kind of European Political Party?
Trunečka, Adam ; Kasáková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Mejstřík, Martin (referee)
Alongside the process of European integration in a large number of policy areas, scholars have also observed political integration in the EC/EU. The major European political parties, or Europarties, were founded by and subjected to their constituent member parties, not their individual members - many of them do not even offer individual membership. This is why the Europarties are described as "parties of parties". Throughout time, there have been attempts at establishing grassroots pan-European parties. The most notable contemporary examples are DiEM25 and Volt Europa. The aim of this thesis is to understand whether the self-presentation of Volt as "the first pan-European party" is in fact reflected in its internal structure and whether it is different from the "classical" "parties of parties". The typologies of vertical party organization developed by Maurice Duverger served as a framework for this thesis. Using thematic analysis, I studied the statutes of Volt and some of its branches. This was complemented by semi-structured interviews with some of the party members. I concluded that Volt Europa gives its individual members extensive rights and a central role in its party structure. Conversely to typical Europarties, it also has some power over the national branches. Additionally, it partially...
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Internal structure of Europarties since 2004
Kuznická, Anna ; Kasáková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Rovná, Lenka (referee)
Presented thesis is focusing on the dependence and relationship between Europarties and groups of the European Parliament and Europarties and national parties. The research is carried out on five Europarties: European People's Party (EPP), the Social Democratic Party (PES), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the European Green Party (EGP) and the Party of the European Left (PEL) in the period 2004-2013 and it focuses on three areas: Europarties' financing, its leadership and autonomy in decision making. It presents several conclusions. Since 2004 Europarties became independent on the EP groups and more independent on the national parties in the area of financing in connection with the Regulation No. 2004/2003 regulating financing while their resources have been growing. On the other hand, all three organizational structures are still involved in the decision making as is shown on the example of nominations and subsequent elections of the so-called Spitzenkandidaten (candidates for the President of the European Commission) and the hierarchy within the European party families is similar to the hierarchy of its member parties. Presented thesis also highlights the considerable personal connections between EP groups and the top positions in the Europarties and it underlines...
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Internal structure of Europarties since 2004
Kuznická, Anna ; Kasáková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Rovná, Lenka (referee)
Presented thesis is focusing on the dependence and relationship between Europarties and groups of the European Parliament and Europarties and national parties. The research is carried out on five Europarties: European People's Party (EPP), the Social Democratic Party (PES), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the European Green Party (EGP) and the Party of the European Left (PEL) in the period 2004-2013 and it focuses on three areas: Europarties' financing, its leadership and autonomy in decision making. It presents several conclusions. Since 2004 Europarties became independent on the EP groups and more independent on the national parties in the area of financing in connection with the Regulation No. 2004/2003 regulating financing while their resources have been growing. On the other hand, all three organizational structures are still involved in the decision making as is shown on the example of nominations and subsequent elections of the so-called Spitzenkandidaten (candidates for the President of the European Commission) and the hierarchy within the European party families is similar to the hierarchy of its member parties. Presented thesis also highlights the considerable personal connections between EP groups and the top positions in the Europarties and it underlines...
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Regional Political Parties and the European Union: Case Study of Spain
Coufalová, Kateřina ; Perottino, Michel (advisor) ; Urban, Traian (referee)
Regional political parties and the European Union: Case study of Spain Abstract The diploma thesis "Regional political parties and the European Union: Case study of Spain" focuses on the area of the regional parties on the stage of the European Parliament, a subject which has not been analysed thoroughly in the past. Special emphasis is placed on the analysis of this phenomenon on the case of the Spanish historical regions (Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia) which are a recognizable proof of the remarkable institutional strengthening in the framework of a regionalized unitary state. The methodology of triangulation was used for the analysis of this issue as the data of the diverse type (i.e. electoral results, party's material etc.) have been put together through different methods (as a qualitative and quantitative content analysis, deductive and comparative approaches) with the aim to reveal the complete character of the issue and to reach the objective results as possible. The study focuses on the analysis of the regional parties on the European level through their cooperation in the European federations of the political parties as well as the framework of the political groups in the European Parliament. The emphasis is also placed on the analysis of the own work of the members of the European Parliament...
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