[4] The ODA was established in 1989 by a group of intellectuals as a conservative-liberal party, based on ideas often expressed in The Salisbury Review.

In 1996 legislative election, the ODA obtained 6.36 per cent of votes and again formed coalition with the ODS and KDU–ČSL (the second government of Václav Klaus).

However, the ODA became the coalition's weakest member, and after its funding problems came to light, it ceased to take part in the Czech political scene.

It only had one senator, Karel Schwarzenberg (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic since 2007).

Czech billionaire Pavel Sehnal announced in December 2016 that he established a new Civic Democratic Alliance.