Michal Šmarda elected new leader of the Social Democrats

The mayor of Nové Město na Moravě, Michal Šmarda, was elected as the new chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party on Friday. Mr Šmarda received 130 out of the total 233 votes cast at the Party’s extraordinary conference, which took place via online format due to the ongoing epidemiological situation. Outgoing Labour Minister came in second with 62 votes. She said that she will not be running for any other leadership position.

Mr Šmarda thanked the delegates and said that he was glad to receive the opportunity to lead the party at a time when no traditional left-wing party is represented in the Czech lower-house of Parliament. He said that the Social Democrats can offer support to people impacted by the ongoing health and economic crisis, while also suggesting that the country is facing a social and moral crisis as well.

The previous party leadership resigned after the party’s unsuccessful result in this year’s elections into the Chamber of Deputies. It was the first time in the modern history of the country that the Social Democrats did not get any seats in the lower-house.