Regional branches of Social Democrats choose candidates for top posts

Meanwhile some regional branches of the Social Democrats have been choosing their candidates for leading posts in the party, ahead of a conference in March. The only candidate for party chairman so far is current leader and prime minister, Vladimir Spidla. On Friday, deputy chairman Petr Lachnit said Stanislav Gross and Zdenek Skromach should stand against Mr Spidla, though Mr Skromach himself said on Sunday that it was not the right time to choose a new leader.