Petr Fiala boosts ODS party leadership chances

Former education minister Petr Fiala has boosted his chances of becoming the next leader of the centre-right Civic Democrat Party. Fiala was backed to become party chairman by regional party meetings at Zlín, Vysočina and Hradec Králové on Saturday. He has already won support from regional meetings in South Moravia and Central Bohemia. The Civic Democrats are set to choose a new leader at a national meeting in Olomouc on January 18 and 19. The Liberec region has backed rival contender, MEP Edvard Kožušník.