Petříček to run for chairmanship of Social Democrats

The Czech minister of foreign affairs, Tomáš Petříček, plans to stand for chairman of the Social Democratic Party at a congress in April. Mr. Petříček told the news site Seznam Zpravy that he aimed to change the party’s style of leadership. After the Social Democrats did poorly in Senate and regional elections in October the foreign policy chief said that he would not run for the post.

The current leader of the party, Jan Hamáček, said he was not surprised by Mr. Petříček’s move and would announce his own intentions in good time.