Gandalovič hopes to challenge Topolánek for leadership

Former agriculture minister Petr Gandlovič has said he would like to run against Mirek Topolánek for the leadership of the right-of-centre Civic Democrats, a regional daily in Ustí nad Labem reported on Friday. The party is to hold a congress this November, but it is not expected to be a leadership convention. Instead, the congress will focus on unifying the party ahead of next year’s election. Party leader Mirek Topolánek reacted to the news on Friday by saying Petr Gandalovič was not a new face in the party capable of re-invigorating the leadership. He also said he did not consider him a true challenger. The former prime minister has led the Civic Democrats since November 2002.