Civic Democratic Party holds two-day conference

The Civic Democratic Party is holding a two-day conference at which it is expected to elect a new leadership. The first day of the conference is devoted to an analysis of the party’s lackluster performance in the recent general elections and its strategy in coalition talks on forming a centre-right government. Petr Nečas, who led the party to the elections, after the resignation of Mirek Topolánek in March of this year, is running for the top post, unchallenged. He said in an opening speech that the party had lost credibility, been damaged by corruption scandals and had failed to sell its policy programme to the public. Despite the party’s lackluster performance, the strong showing of two new parties, TOP09 and Public Affairs have given the Civic Democrats the chance to form a centre-right government, with Mr. Nečas expected to become the country’s next prime minister.