Jan Hamáček elected new Social Democrat leader

Jan Hamáček has been elected new leader of the Social Democratic Party at the party conference in Hradec Králové on Sunday. Former lower house speaker Hamáček received 272 out of 527 votes in the second round of the election. His rival Jiří Zimola, former South Bohemian governor, received 224 votes.

In his speech delivered after the vote, Jan Hamáček said that Social Democrats should negotiate with the ANO Party on forming a new government. If the Social Democrats were to participate in the government, the members would have to decide in a referendum within the party, he added.

In connection with the investigation of the acting PM Andrej Babiš, Mr Hamáček said it was impossible for people facing criminal charges to take part in the government.

Seven candidates ran for the top party post, including the acting party leader Milan Chovanec. The party convention was called after the party suffered a major defeat in the parliamentary elections in October, picking up only 7.27 percent of the vote.