Are the upper chambers a source of democratic resilience? Evidence from elite perceptions in the Czech Republic

In recent years, several Central and Eastern European countries, including Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, have experienced significant democratic backsliding. The Czech Republic was also perceived as a possible case of democratic backsliding after populist billionaire Andrej Babiš became Prime Minister in 2017, running on a platform including proposals to transform the constitutional system. However, no major “reforms” took place, and little democratic backsliding occurred. This article examines Czech democratic resilience, focusing on the under-researched issue of institutional resilience through a study of the upper chamber of Parliament (the Senate). Although they can empower anti-democratic holdovers, the upper chambers’ primary role is often to guard the stability of democratic constitutional systems. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with Czech senators, the article examines how senators perceived the Senate’s capacity and legitimacy to safeguard democracy. The findings suggest that the Senate’s contribution to democratic resilience stems less from formal authority than its self-perception and resultant independent behaviour. By perceiving itself as a guardian of democracy and acting assertively and autonomously from the executive-dominated lower chamber, the Senate strengthened liberal constitutionalism in Czechia. The article thus offers a new perspective on the mechanisms of democratic resilience and the potential of upper chambers to mitigate democratic erosion.