Czech Christian Democrats electing new leadership

The Christian Democratic Party will elect a new leadership at its congress in Olomouc on Friday and Saturday, seeking a strategy to regain voters ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections. Current chairman Marian Jurečka (Minister of Labor and Social Affairs) faces a number of challengers for the top post including Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný and Senator Jiří Čunek. MP Šimon Heller and Prague Christian Democrats  leader Tomáš Kaplan are also expected to run. Former leader Pavel Bělobrádek ruled out a chairmanship bid but remains open to joining the party's leadership team.

Opinion polls indicate that the Christian Democrats are now far below the 5 % threshold needed to win seats in the lower house of Parliament.