Social Democrats electing new party leader

The Social Democrats are electing a new leader at the party’s conference in Hradec Králové on Saturday. The new party chair will face the uphill task of raising the party’s dwindling popularity ahead of next year’s general elections. In opinion surveys the party has consistently appeared below the 5 percent threshold needed to win seats in the lower house. The main rivals for the top post are former labour and social affairs minister Jana Maláčová and former foreign minister Jiří Dienstbier. Michal Šmarda is leaving the post after three years at the helm.