Interim National Assembly (Czechoslovakia)

The Interim National Assembly (Czech: Prozatímní Národní shromáždění, Slovak: Dočasné Národné zhromaždenie) was the legislative body of Czechoslovakia from 1945 to 1946, established after the liberation of the country from Nazi occupation at the end of World War II. It served as a temporary parliament until elections could be held.

The assembly was formed on the basis of agreements reached between the Czechoslovak government-in-exile in London and representatives of the domestic resistance movements, primarily the Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council. It reflected the political realities of the time, with a significant presence of communist and socialist parties, as well as representatives from other political groups that had participated in the resistance. The dominant position of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) was evident, setting the stage for their eventual seizure of power in 1948.

The Interim National Assembly was responsible for ratifying key postwar policies, including the Beneš decrees, which dealt with the status of ethnic Germans and Hungarians in Czechoslovakia, often involving property confiscation and expulsion. It also passed legislation relating to nationalization of key industries and the establishment of a people's democracy. One of its primary functions was to prepare for the elections to the Constituent Assembly (Ústavodárné Národní shromáždění) in 1946, which would then draft a new constitution.

While intended as a temporary body, the Interim National Assembly played a crucial role in shaping the political and economic landscape of postwar Czechoslovakia, laying the groundwork for the communist takeover. Its composition and the legislation it passed cemented the growing influence of the communist party, ultimately contributing to the end of genuine multi-party democracy in the country.