Three Social Democratic rebels resign

Three senior Social Democratic officials who had attempted to oust party chair Bohuslav Sobotka after disappointing election results have resigned from positions in the party leadership. Michal Hašek and Zdeněk Škromach have stepped down as deputy party chairs while Jeroným Tejc quit as the head of the Social Democrat MPs’ club. The three officials, along with another two senior Social Democrats, attended a secret meeting with President Zeman just hours after the polls closed in the recent general elections, causing a major controversy within the party. A majority of party members have backed Mr. Sobotka, calling for those implicated in the revolt to resign. In a reaction, Bohuslav Sobotka on Friday appreciated his rivals’ decision, and said he saw no reasons for other party officials to quit.