[3] The Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) was the front-runner of the election and its leader Jiří Paroubek was the favourite to become the new prime minister.

ČSSD leader Jiří Paroubek resigned after the election, conceding that a conservative coalition government appeared likely due to the rise in support for two new right-wing parties: TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV).

In June, a centre-right coalition of ODS, TOP 09, and VV was formed, with Petr Nečas becoming the prime minister.

On 24 March 2009, after four previous failed attempts, the opposition ČSSD succeeded in passing a no confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek (ODS) in the lower house of the Czech parliament.

[8] On 28 March 2009, ČSSD leader Jiří Paroubek and Topolánek agreed to hold early elections in October 2009.

[25] Following controversial comments about the Catholic Church, Jews and homosexuals, ODS chairman Topolánek withdrew from the election and resigned as party leader on 26 March 2010.

The party stated it would support shorter working periods[clarification needed] and employment of graduates and seniors.

Nečas rejected Paroubek's comments and stated that ODS would not form a Grand coalition with ČSSD after the election.

[38][39] The Civic Democrats conducted an active campaign on the internet, communicating with potential voters on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

[40] On 30 April 2010, ODS released an election advert entitled "Your vote", commemorating the trial of Milada Horáková and the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, and warning against Social Democrats and Communists.

[41] Nečas held campaign events in multiple towns across the Czech Republic, meeting potential voters.

[42] ODS also featured Nečas heavily in its billboard campaign, launched in May 2010,[43] which presented him as a candidate of "responsible politics".

[44] The first head-to-head debate between Nečas and Paroubek was held on 12 April 2018, resulting in no clear winner, according to analysts.

120 Hours for Victory included performances by Czech singers such as Eva Pilarová, Helena Zeťová, Ivan Mládek, Tereza Kerndlová and Jitka Zelenková, attended by hundreds of party supporters.

The party was endorsed by British prime minister David Cameron and Slovak politician Iveta Radičová who both attended the event.

Slogans used on billboards included "Let's stop ODS and TOP 09 on 28 May" or "If you don't vote, you will pay by getting dismissed without cause.

[51] ČSSD concluded its campaign with the slogan "Work and Prosperity", and handed out 100,000 doughnuts at events for party supporters.

ČSSD campaign manager Jaroslav Tvrdík stated that the party wanted to "make it more pleasant for people to wake up, and remind them why is voting important".

[62][63] TOP 09 decided to target conservative voters and began raising funds for their campaign,[64][65] which was launched on 27 April 2010.

Their campaign focused on the environment and support for a healthy lifestyle, while also telling voters that their economic programme was good for the Czech Republic.

[81][82] Defenestration 2010 was an independent initiative organised by František Janouch and Lenka Procházková, urging voters to use their preferential votes to help elect lesser known politicians, as they were "less likely to be involved in corruption".

[84] The leaders of the two largest parties, Petr Nečas and Jiří Paroubek, appeared in four head-to-head debates.

[104] ODS, TOP 09 and VV had all committed to government spending cuts, raising the prospect of the formation of a fiscally conservative cabinet.

[105] ODS leader Petr Nečas said that the three parties had a "common will" to form a government,[97][106] stating that their financial plans would work together to help the country avoid a crisis similar to the one affecting Greece at the time.