Petr Nečas elected leader of the Civic Democratic Party

Petr Nečas has been elected leader of the Civic Democrats. Mr. Nečas, who has served as acting chairman since the resignation in March of the party’s former leader Mirek Topolánek, was officially confirmed in the post at a two day conference of the Civic Democratic Party in Prague. Dubbed by the media as Mr. Clean, Petr Nečas said his ambition was to renew public trust and make the Civic Democrats a leading force in Czech politics. The five newly-elected deputies are all close allies of Mr. Nečas.

The first day of the conference was 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. Despite the party’s poor showing, strong support for two new parties, TOP09 and Public Affairs have given the Civic Democrats the chance to form a centre-right government, with Mr. Nečas widely expected to become the country’s next prime minister.