Communist Party launches campaign following 'top' communist clash

The Communist Party has officially launched its campaign towards this year's national election to be held in June, criticising the country's largest opposition party, the right-of-centre Civic Democrats, currently leading in opinion polls. Party head Vojtech Filip indicated that the current government coalition leaders, the left-of-centre Social Democrats, have far more in common on policy issues, and there are indications the Communist Party would be willing to support a future minority Social Democrat government following elections in June.

All the same, this week saw former Communist Party leader Miroslav Grebenicek clash with his successor Mr Filip, whom he criticised for being too soft on the Social Democratic Party - in government now for two successive terms. The Communist Party officially announced its campaign on Saturday at Prague's Congress centre but its former chairman Miroslav Grebenicek was notably absent.