2018 Czech Social Democratic Party leadership election explained

Election Name:2018 ČSSD leadership election
Country:Czech Republic
Flag Image:CSSD Teillogo.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2017 Czech Social Democratic Party leadership election
Previous Year:2017
Next Election:2019 Czech Social Democratic Party leadership election
Next Year:2019
Election Date:18 February 2018
Candidate1:Jan Hamáček
Colour1:EC5800
Electoral Vote1:272
Percentage1:54.8%
Candidate2:Jiří Zimola
Colour2:EC5800
Electoral Vote2:224
Percentage2:45.2%
Leader of ČSSD
Before Election:Milan Chovanec (acting)
After Election:Jan Hamáček

A leadership election for the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) was held in 2018 following the 2017 legislative election.[1] Jan Hamáček was elected the new leader of the party, defeating Jiří Zimola in the second round.[2]

Background

In the previous leadership election, held in 2017, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka was reelected as the party's leader and expressed his intention to remain in the position until 2019, when the next leader would be elected.[3] Poor results in opinion polls led to Sobotka's resignation on 14 June 2017. Minister of Internal Affairs Milan Chovanec became acting leader of the party while Lubomír Zaorálek became the electoral leader for the 2017 legislative election.[4] Chovanec announced on 29 July that the leadership election would be held in 2018, most likely in Spring. He mentioned March as a possible date. Lubomír Zaorálek announced his intention to participate in the election.[5] [6] [7]

ČSSD suffered a heavy defeat in the 2017 election, coming sixth with 7% of the vote. Zaorálek stated that he did not intend to step down as party leader,[8] but some prominent members of the party including Jaroslav Foldyna and Michal Hašek called for a change of leadership.[9]

Campaign

On 22 October 2017 Chovanec announced that party's meeting would be held on 7 April 2018.[10] Milan Chovanec and Jan Hamáček were mentioned by commentators as potential main candidates. Chovanec was reported to be planning his candidacy.[11] Zaorálek announced that he would not run for party leader due to the poor result in the legislative election.[12] Chovanec stated on 28 October that the election should be direct and suggested that the new leader could be an independent. He also stated that he would not run for the position.[13] Regional branches of the party were dissatisfied that the election would be held in April and wanted it to be held sooner. On 3 November 2017, it was announced the election would be held on 18 February 2018. Jaroslav Foldyna and Jiří Zimola were mentioned as possible candidates.[14] Roman Onderka received support from the South Moravian branch for running for any position in the party's management. Some prominent members of the organisation stated that Onderka should consider running for leadership of the party.[15]

ČSSD decided to allow independent politicians to run for the position, enabling Vysočina governor Běhounek to stand.[16] Běhounek announced he would run for the position if some members of the party returned to prominent leadership positions, including Jiří Zimola, Michal Hašek and Jeroným Tejc.[17] These individuals stated that they did not intend to return to these positions.[18] Tejc even left the party, saying there was a lack of responsibility for the disastrous result in 2017 legislative election.[19] Běhounek was criticised for his ties with Hašek.[20]

On 20 December 2017, Milan Chovanec stated that he might run for the position of leader, and would announce his decision on 18 January 2018.[21] On 8 January 2018, Jan Hamáček attended a conference of Mladá Boleslav ČSSD. He announced his candidacy at the meeting, saying that ČSSD had to fight for its survival, and that the party had to focus on its traditional voters. Hamáček received his nomination for the candidacy at the conference.[22] On 9 January 2018, Miroslav Krejčík announced his candidacy.[23] Mayor of Olomouc Staněk announced his candidacy on 11 January 2018. He received nominations from three district branches.

On 11 January 2018, Milan Chovanec received nominations from the Plzeň-city and Tachov branches of ČSSD. He stated that he had not yet decided if he would run, but was considering it.[24] On 12 January 2018, the Ostrava district branch nominated Miroslav Krejčík and Jiří Zimola.[25] Chovanec accepted the nomination and announced his candidacy on 28 January 2018. Chovanec is a supporter of Czech president Miloš Zeman and was present at Zeman's electoral headquarters when Zeman was re-elected for a second term on 27 January 2018. Chovanec received nominations from the Zlín and Plzeň regional branches. Chovanec and Hamáček were considered front-runners of the election at that time.[26] Jiří Zimola also announced his candidacy on 28 January 2018. Zimola is a member of a platform called "Let's Save ČSSD" and a supporter of Miloš Zeman. He is also considered an ally of Andrej Babiš and ANO 2011. Hamáček on the other hand is supported by a faction that opposes Zeman and supported Jiří Drahoš during the presidential election.[27] [28]

Hamáček received nominations from five regions (Prague, Central Bohemia, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králové and Liberec). Chovanec received nominations from 3 regions (Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem and Zlín). The other candidates received nominations from one region each; Zimola was nominated by South Bohemia, Staněk by Olomouc region, Krejčík by South Bohemia, and Žatecká by Liberec region. Jukl did not receive a nomination from any region. Vysočina and Pardubice regions did not nominate any candidate. Hamáček was considered to be the front runner due to his greater number of nominations.[29]

The question of whether ČSSD should join a coalition with ANO 2011 became the main issue of the campaign; Hamáček and Zimola support joining the coalition while Chovanec is opposed.[30] [31] Jan Jukl, Romana Žatecká and Jiří Sokol are also against the coalition with ANO.[32] Chovanec made his opinion public in a letter to party members warning them that participation in the coalition government would hurt the party. He also criticised his rivals Hamáček and Zimola.[33] Hamáček later published his own letter in which he criticised Chovanec and argued that the party should negotiate with ANO.[34]

Hamáček was considered the front-runner due to his high number of nominations. His main rival was believed to be Milan Chovanec, with Jiří Zimola considered the third strongest candidate. Mladá fronta DNES speculated that Miroslav Krejčík could be the dark horse of the election. Chovanec succeeded in convincing delegates from North Moravia to support him.[35] [30]

Candidates

Speculative

Refused

Opinion polls

Date Agency Sample Milan Chovanec Jan Hamáček Jiří Zimola Miroslav Krejčík Antonín Staněk Jan Jukl Romana Žatecká Undecided
6 Feb 2018 Phoenix Research[51] 970 ČSSD supporters 17% 14% 13% 10% 8% 4% 2% 32%
970 voters 16% 12% 15%

Voting

Candidate 1st Round2nd Round
15529.81%27254.84%
17934.42%22445.16%
11622.31%
305.77%
214.04%
132.50%
61.15%
Turnout52098.86%51698.10%
The election was held on 18 February 2018. President Miloš Zeman attended the party meeting and suggested that the party should join a coalition with ANO 2011, but he did not endorse any particular candidate. Zeman also warned the party against excluding different opinions within the party. The election was preceded by a debate between the delegates. Michal Picl argued against a coalition with ANO. Kateřina Valachová said that ČSSD should be confident and find its own equivalent to Robert Fico. Jan Mládek criticised Bohuslav Sobotka's leadership and said that Sobotka had only tried to keep his position, and had not presented a program to the voters. He added that the party should elect a candidate with strong ideas. Lubomír Zaorálek said that the new leader should have empathy.

The candidates then made their nomination speeches. Jiří Sokol withdrew his candidacy. Hamáček stated that he wanted to unify the party. He talked about engaging in discussions with the party membership, and said he would open the party for the people and build a welfare state, and that ČSSD should support justice for people. Hamáček also expressed the view that the party should negotiate with ANO 2011 about joining the government.[52] Chovanec said he knew he wasn't a perfect candidate, and is different from Emmanuel Macron or Robert Fico. He said that ČSSD should not join a coalition with ANO, but should focus on issues of interest to the people, such as executions. Chovanec concluded by saying that he was offering his experience and skills but did not want anything back.[53] Jan Jukl opposed a coalition with ANO, and said that the party should return to trustworthy politics.[54] Miroslav Krejčík talked about the situation in the party before the 2017 legislative election, saying that he and the party's supporters had not understood the party leadership or their strategy, and the party was unable to communicate with voters. He added that relaunching the party was not enough.[55] Staněk said he wanted to return ČSSD to trustworthiness.[56] Zimola's supporters gave pink glasses to delegates, and during his speech Zimola said these glasses were to represent the current party leadership's view of the party's situation, and that they could not see the party's problems. He said that the party was supporting many things their supporters did not agree with, and the party should refocus on problems relevant to its base. He said that the people wanted to take back the state that capitalist elites had stolen from them. He received a lot of applause for his speech.[57] [58] [59]

Jiří Zimola and Jan Hamáček advanced to the second round; Zimola received 178 votes while Hamáček received 156.[60] Hamáček won the second round, with 272 votes to Zimola's 224.[61]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Případný volební sjezd ČSSD by mohl být na jaře, míní Chovanec. ceskenoviny.cz. 29 July 2017. cs.
  2. Web site: Hamáček je novým šéfem ČSSD. V opozici nás hodí do jednoho pytle s Kalouskem a Fialou, varoval. Aktuálně.cz. 18 February 2018. cs. 18 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Účty složíme za dva roky, ne po volbách, prohlásil Sobotka. Deník.cz. 29 July 2017. cs. 12 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Sobotka končí v čele ČSSD, volebním lídrem bude Zaorálek. iDNES.cz. 29 July 2017. 14 June 2017.
  5. Web site: Zaorálek chce být šéfem ČSSD. Nejdřív však chce volební úspěch. Echo24. 29 July 2017. cs. 29 July 2017.
  6. Web site: Zaorálek ráno připustil kandidaturu do čela ČSSD. A Chovanec se rychle přihlásil taky. Parlamentní Listy. 29 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Brodníčková. Karolína. Zaorálek: Chci vyhrát volby a být předsedou ČSSD. Novinky.cz. 29 July 2017. cs.
  8. Web site: ČSSD opařil volební propadák, vedení strany zatím odejít nehodlá. iDNES.cz. 21 October 2017. 21 October 2017.
  9. Web site: Katastrofa pro ČSSD. Volby zahýbou složením strany. Eurozprávy. 21 October 2017. cs.
  10. Web site: ČSSD by mohla skončit v opozici, řekl Chovanec. Sjezd bude v dubnu. iDNES.cz. 22 October 2017. 22 October 2017.
  11. Web site: Chovanec vyzval stranu, ať mlčí. Kritika na vedení ČSSD přesto sílí. seznamzpravy.cz. 26 October 2017. cs.
  12. Web site: Zaorálek už nechce do vedení ČSSD. Novinky.cz. 27 October 2017. cs.
  13. Web site: Vedení ČSSD v dubnu skončí, prohlásil Chovanec. Novinky.cz. 28 October 2017. cs.
  14. Web site: ČSSD si nové vedení zvolí zřejmě už v únoru. Novinky.cz. 3 November 2017. cs.
  15. Web site: Brněnská ČSSD vyzvala Onderku ke kandidatuře do vedení strany. ceskenoviny.cz. 15 November 2017. cs.
  16. Web site: Ivan Bednář: ČSSD má recept pro neúspěšné volby - nové logo. Parlamentní Listy. 2 December 2017.
  17. Web site: ČSSD má datum sjezdu, na lídra se s podmínkami přihlásil Běhounek. ceskenoviny.cz. 2 December 2017. cs.
  18. Web site: Šéfem ČSSD chce být hejtman Běhounek. Na sjezd v Hradci si ale klade podmínky. Blesk.cz. 2 December 2017.
  19. Web site: Tejc odchází z ČSSD, vadí mu postoj vedení k volebnímu fiasku. ceskenoviny.cz. 2 December 2017. cs.
  20. Web site: Bartoníček. Radek. Chovanec se zastal Sobotky, nelíbí se mu, jak proti němu vystoupila jihomoravská ČSSD. Hádky chce usmířit i Běhounek. Hospodářské noviny. 2 December 2017. cs. 28 November 2017.
  21. Web site: Chovanec: S Babišem budeme o vládě jednat ve druhém kole. Novinky.cz. 20 December 2017. cs.
  22. Web site: Hamáček bude kandidovat na předsedu ČSSD. Novinky.cz. 8 January 2018. cs.
  23. Web site: Předsedou ČSSD chtějí být Hamáček i bývalý šéf Vojenského zpravodajství Krejčík. Lidovky.cz. 9 January 2018. 8 January 2018.
  24. Web site: Milan Chovanec získal nominace na funkci předsedy ČSSD. Parlamentní Listy. 11 January 2018.
  25. Web site: Ostravští sociální demokraté chtějí za předsedu Krejčíka nebo Zimolu. Novinky.cz. 12 January 2018. cs.
  26. Web site: Chovanec se utká o post šéfa ČSSD s Hamáčkem. Získal nominace v krajích. iDNES.cz. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  27. Web site: Jiří Zimola zvažuje kandidaturu na předsedu ČSSD. Parlamentní Listy. 23 October 2017.
  28. Web site: "Mu zlámu ty prsty!" V ČSSD se drsně řeší volba vedení. A na jazycích jména jako Hašek, Zimola, Tvrdík. Parlamentní Listy. 31 January 2018.
  29. Web site: Nejvíce nominací na předsedu ČSSD získal v krajích Hamáček. Parlamentní Listy. 5 February 2018.
  30. Web site: ANALÝZA: Do boje o křeslo předsedy ČSSD promlouvá i vyjednávání o vládě. iDNES.cz. 17 February 2018. 17 February 2018.
  31. Web site: Osm politiků chce vést a zachránit ČSSD. S čím jdou do boje. iDNES.cz. 17 February 2018. 16 February 2018.
  32. Web site: ČSSD zvolí nového lídra a bude řešit, zda jít s Babišem do vlády. iDNES.cz. 18 February 2018. 18 February 2018.
  33. Web site: Chovanec napsal spolustraníkům dopis. Varuje ČSSD před vstupem do vlády. iDNES.cz. 17 February 2018. 9 February 2018.
  34. Web site: Hamáček nestojí o ministerstvo obrany. Chovancovi vyčetl policejní reformu. iDNES.cz. 17 February 2018. 13 February 2018.
  35. Web site: Politika, hospoda, politikaření, večírky, "pátá kolona" USA v Praze... Vše, co chcete vědět o Janu Hamáčkovi, možném šéfovi ČSSD. Nejen od zdrojů ze strany. Parlamentní Listy. 17 February 2018.
  36. Web site: Million dollar Babiš. POLITICO. 23 October 2017. 22 October 2017.
  37. Web site: Volby 2018: Zemanova partie proti Babišovi odstartovala naplno: Chovanec ohlásil kandidaturu na předsedu ČSSD. Info.cz. 28 January 2018. cs.
  38. Web site: Kdo zvedne ČSSD z bahna? Hamáček šilhá po Babišovi, Chovanec nabízí Zemana a Zimola zkusí překvapit. Extra.cz. 17 February 2018. cs.
  39. Web site: Hamáček chce být předsedou ČSSD. Bojujeme o přežití, burcuje. iDNES.cz. 8 January 2018. 8 January 2018.
  40. Web site: ČSSD na poslední chvíli získala překvapivého zájemce o post předsedy. Novinky.cz. 16 February 2018. cs.
  41. Web site: Zájem vést ČSSD má i poslanec a olomoucký primátor Staněk. Novinky.cz. 11 January 2018. cs.
  42. Web site: ČSSD čeká střet o Babiše. Novinky.cz. 30 January 2018. cs.
  43. Web site: Česká televize. V ČSSD se střetnou dvě křídla. Do čela strany chce Chovanec, Zimola nebo Hamáček. ČT24. 17 February 2018. cs.
  44. Web site: Zájemců o post šéfa ČSSD přibývá. Vést stranu chtějí i Chovanec a Zimola. iDNES.cz. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  45. Web site: Pražská ČSSD souhlasí s návratem Paroubka. Ten chce do čela Haška či Zimolu. Echo24.cz. 31 October 2017. cs. 31 October 2017.
  46. Web site: Hašek do vedení ČSSD nechce. Euro.cz. 2 December 2017. cs. 3 November 2017.
  47. Web site: Onderka jako nový předseda sociálních demokratů? Do vedení strany ho navrhuje brněnská ČSSD. Info.cz. 15 November 2017. cs.
  48. Web site: Paroubek předčasně ukončil rozhovor v Českém rozhlase a odešel. iDNES.cz. 29 July 2017. 23 June 2017.
  49. Web site: Nemám ambici vracet se do vedení ČSSD, zůstat členem chci, říká Sobotka. iDNES.cz. 29 July 2017. 18 July 2017.
  50. Web site: Jiří Paroubek vzkázal do ČSSD: Jestli mě přijmete zpět, budu hned kandidovat na předsedu. Parlamentní Listy. 28 December 2017.
  51. Web site: Špatné zprávy pro premiéra: První výzkum ukazuje na budoucího šéfa ČSSD. Že by Hamáček nebo Sobotka byli Babišovými soupeři? Vyloženě směšné. Parlamentní Listy. 7 February 2018.
  52. Web site: Hamáček v kandidátském projevu: Lidé vidí, že ti velcí a silní si berou daleko víc, takže.... Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  53. Web site: Chovanec v kandidátském projevu varoval před Babišem: Slyšeli jsme jen urážky a že ČSSD je k ničemu. Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  54. Web site: Kandidát na předsedu ČSSD Jan Jukl odmítl vstup do vlády s ANO. Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  55. Web site: Krejčík řekl sjezdu ČSSD, že by mohl být změnou. Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  56. Web site: Staněk nabídl ČSSD důvěryhodnost a srozumitelnost. Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  57. Web site: Nebojte se, nasaďte si je... Zimola rozdal mezi delegáty růžové brýle a spustil.... Parlamentní Listy. 18 February 2018.
  58. Web site: ON-LINE: Začal sjezd ČSSD. K delegátům promlouvá prezident Zeman. Novinky.cz. 18 February 2018. cs.
  59. Web site: Sjezd ČSSD. Echo24.cz. 18 February 2018. cs. 18 February 2018.
  60. Web site: Česká televize. Zimola a Hamáček postoupili do finále volby předsedy ČSSD. ČT24. 18 February 2018. cs.
  61. Web site: Živě: Novým šéfem ČSSD je Jan Hamáček. Slibuje sjednocení strany i vyjednávání o vládě, kterou ale nepovede Babiš. Hospodářské noviny. 18 February 2018. cs. 18 February 2018.

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