After Czechoslovakia was divided into two countries, the independent Czech Republic was created on January 1, 1993, and was quickly recognised by numerous countries across the world. Since 1993, the Czech Republic has been a member of the United Nations. Vaclav Havel, the last President of Czechoslovakia, was also elected the first President of the Czech Republic in 1993 (re-elected in January 1998), and the government of the Democratic Citizens' Party, the Christian Democrats, and other centre-right parties was formed (V. Klaus was Prime Minister). The goal was to establish a market economy and undertake privatisation. Centre-right parties won the parliamentary elections again in 1996.
The Czech Republic formally requested for admission to the European Union in 1996 and was invited to join in November 2002 (membership is scheduled to begin in May 2004).
The country maintains close ties with Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland (the Visegrad Group). After Klaus resigned in December 1997, Josef Tošovský formed a new cabinet. In 1998, the Social Democrats won early legislative elections, and Mr Zeman, head of the Social Democratic Party of the Czech Republic, became Prime Minister. In March 1999, the Czech Republic joined NATO. Following the 2002 elections, a 4-party coalition led by the Social Democrats (Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla) ruled until 2004. V. Klaus was elected President of the Czech Republic on February 2, 2003
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