Head of Greens calls for extraordinary party conference

The head of the Czech Greens, Martin Bursík, has called on his party to hold an extraordinary congress in a bid to reaffirm his mandate. The environment minister intends to assemble his party for a conference in September, at which party members would vote for a new leadership and new party statutes. Analysts say that Mr Bursík is seeking to shore up support within his party ahead of key votes on the US radar and the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Bursík’s critics within the party say his request for a conference is undemocratic, and that they are considering blocking the move.