2018 Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia leadership election

2018 Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia leadership election
← 2016 21 April 2018[1] 2021 →
 
Candidate Vojtěch Filip Josef Skála
Electoral vote 165 143
Percentage 53.6% 46.4%
Leader of KSČM before election

Vojtěch Filip

 Elected Leader of KSČM

Vojtěch Filip

The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) held a leadership election on 21 April 2018. Snap election was held as a result of party's losses in 2017 legislative election. Josef Skála was first major candidate to announce his candidacy.[2] The incumbent leader Vojtěch Filip decided to run for another term. MEP Kateřina Konečná became third major candidate. Filip and Skála eventually advanced to second round.[3]

Filip won the election and was elected for another four years.

Background

KSČM received only 8% in 2017 legislative election and was reduced to 15 seats. Josef Skála the leader of inner-party's opposition called for the resignation of the incumbent leader Vojtěch Filip. It was announced that snap election would be held in April 2018. Filip decided to not seek reelection. Skála announced he will run if he receives support in regions.[4]

In November 2017, conflict within the party started. Radical wing represented by Skála attacked moderate wing led by Jiří Dolejš. Skála called Dolejš's wing Bourgeoisie opportunists. Dolejš believes that KSČM should modernise party's image.[5]

The incumbent leader Vojtěch Filip eventually decided to seek another term as the leader and announced his candidacy on 27 February 2018.[6] He secured large number of nominations from party's organisations. His candidacy was criticised by many members of the party due to his responsibility for 2017 election result. His main rival Skála was on the other hand criticised for his radical stances. MEP Kateřina Konečná was speculated as a possible third candidate due to her youth and moderate stances.[7] Kateřina Konečná announced her candidacy on 27 March 2018.[8] MPs Leo Luzar and Zdeněk Ondráček also received nominations for the position of leader.[9]

Parlamentní Listy reported on 20 April 2018, that Luzar and Ondráček won't run but will instead support Konečná.[10] 10 people were nominated for the position of leader. Filip, Skála and Konečná are considered only candidates with a real chance to win the position. Filip is considered the front-runner a he received highest number of nominations.[11]

Candidates

  • Oldřich Duchoň[12]
  • Vojtěch Filip, the incumbent leader. He previously stated that he won't run but changed his mind.[13] He himself mentioned that he could run if he gets support from regions.[14]
  • Stanislav Grospič, former Deputy leader of the party.[12]
  • Ivan Hrůza[12]
  • Martin Juroška[12]
  • Kateřina Konečná, MEP. She was speculated as a possible candidate since March 2018.[15] She announced her candidacy on 27 March 2018.[8]
  • Leo Luzar, MP.[9]
  • Zdeněk Ondráček, MP.[9]
  • Daniel Pawlas[12]
  • Josef Skála, Filip's main opponent in the party. He plans to run for the position. He is considered an orthodox communist.[16]

Declined

  • Jiří Dolejš, Vice-Chairman. Speculated to be a candidate.[13]
  • Filip Zachariáš, Chairman of Vyškov KSČM. He was speculated as a possible rival for Skála.[13]

Opinion polls

Date Agency Josef Skála Kateřina Konečná Vojtěch Filip Zdeněk Ondráček Leo Luzar Stanislav Grospič Oldřich Duchoň Daniel Pawlas Martin Juroška Ivan Hrůza Undecided
17 Apr 2018 Phoenix Research[17] 18% 16% 15% 9% 5% 5% 5% 4% 1% 1% 21%

Voting

Leo Luzar and Zdeněk Ondráček withdrawn from election early on 21 April 2018 and supported Kateřina Konečná.[18] Stanslav Grospič also withdrawn from election. 315 delegates are allowed to vote.[19] Ivan Hrůza withdrawn from election during his nomination speech and endorsed Skála.[20] Vojtěch Filip and Josef Skála advanced to second round.[19] Filip received 110 votes while Skála 105. Kateřnia Konečná came third with 79 votes.[21][22] Filip won the second round, with 165 votes to Skála's 143.[23]

Candidate 1st Round 2nd Round
Vojtěch Filip 110 36.18%
165 53.57%
Josef Skála 105 34.54%
143 46.43%
Kateřina Konečná 79 25.99%
Martin Juroška 7 2.30%
Oldřich Duchoň 2 0.66%
Daniel Pawlas 1 0.33%

References

  1. ^ "Zeman přijede na sjezd KSČM, přednese tam projev". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Na mimořádném sjezdu nebude Filip obhajovat křeslo šéfa KSČM". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. ^ "VÍME PRVNÍ Předsedou KSČM bude Filip nebo Skála. Postoupili do druhého kola". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Rozklad KSČM: Špičky strany na sebe útočí a Filip už nebude předsedou". iDNES.cz. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Komunisti po volebním výprasku: hádky a strach". TÝDEN.cz. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Filip bude znovu kandidovat na předsedu KSČM. Po neúspěchu ve volbách přitom oznámil odchod". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). 27 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Favoritkou na lídra KSČM je nyní Kateřina Konečná". iDNES.cz. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Europoslankyně Konečná potvrdila kandidaturu na předsedkyni KSČM". iDNES.cz. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Skála chce, aby KSČM byla radikálnější a varuje před podporou vlády ANO". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Víme, kdo má velkou šanci nahradit Filipa v čele KSČM a jak může být důležitý prezident Zeman. Čtěte o pozadí sjezdu komunistů". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Tlačenice na post šéfa KSČM. Filip, europoslankyně Konečná i Ondráček". iDNES.cz. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e Šustr, Ladislav (21 April 2018). "Zpátky ke stalinismu? Do čela KSČM kandiduje Filip, Skála či Konečná". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "To se nám to řežou… Přinášíme zákulisní informace o tom, co se děje v KSČM po jejím volebním debaklu a kdo bude kandidovat do jejího vedení". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Pět parlamentních stran čekají v prvním pololetí sjezdy". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Kateřina Konečná, to je favoritka na nástupnictví po Filipovi, píší noviny". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Filip skončí po 12 letech v čele KSČM. Novým lídrem strany chce být Skála". Lidovky.cz. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Z exkluzivního výzkumu pro PL: Největší šance na předsedu KSČM mají Skála a Konečná. Téměř každého pátého Čecha zajímá dění týkající se komunistů". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Komunisté si zvolí nové vedení. Podpořit je přijede i Zeman". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  19. ^ a b "ON-LINE: Sjezd komunistických poprvé. Šanci jít do čela má žena a proslov přednese úřadující prezident". seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Z uzavřeného sálu komunistického sjezdu: Dejte hlasy Skálovi. Jestli se nezměníme, tisíce straníků položi legitimace". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Seznam Zprávy on Twitter". Twitter (in Czech). Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  22. ^ "ParlamentniListy.cz on Twitter". Twitter (in Czech). Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Filip si přes mizerný výsledek KSČM udržel post předsedy strany". iDNES.cz. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
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