Plzen branch of Social Democrats supports party leader

The Plzen branch of the Social Democrats has expressed full support for party leader Bohuslav Sobotka, who this week survived an attempt to oust him from office. The party chair in turn took a benevolent stance to Milan Chovanec, one of the five rebels who met with President Milos Zeman shortly after the elections allegedly to plan the ouster. He later reconsidered his position and publicly admitted the meeting had taken place, forcing the others into similar admissions and turning the situation around in favour of the embattled leader. Mr. Sobotka said that while Chovanec had retained his respect for speaking out, the other four rebels could no longer be trusted and could not expect posts in high office.