2018 Civic Democratic Party leadership election

A Civic Democratic Party (ODS) leadership election was held on 13 January 2018.[2] The incumbent leader Petr Fiala sought reelection. Shadow Minister of Education Václav Klaus Jr. was widely expected to run against Fiala.[2] He was considered to be one of the most visible politician of the party.[3] In December 2016, Czech bookmaker company Fortuna wrote a course for Klaus Jr. to replace Fiala on 20:1.[4] Klaus Jr.. decided to not run against Fiala.[5] Approximately 540 delegates were allowed to vote.[6] Fiala received 451 votes and was elected for another term.

2018 Civic Democratic Party leadership election
13 January 2018[1]
Turnout92.5%
 
Candidate Petr Fiala
Electoral vote 451
Percentage 93.4%
Leader of ODS before election

Petr Fiala

 Elected Leader of ODS

Petr Fiala

Candidates
  • Petr Fiala - The incumbent leader of ODS might seek reelection. He is considered to be more of a "Chairman unifier" than his possible rival Klaus Jr.[7] Fiala leads the party since 2014.

Refused
  • Václav Klaus Jr. - Shadow Minister of education and son of Václav Klaus, the founder and the first leader of ODS. He was widely expected to run.[2] He was considered to be the most visible politician of the party.[3] He is more Eurosceptic than Fiala.[8] Klaus believes that ODS should be closer a protest party. Some prominent politicians of ODS expressed support for him.[9][10] He himself stated that his candidature depends on his result during 2017 legislative election.[11] Klaus Jr. decided to not run.[5]

Background

Previous election was held in 2016. Petr Fiala was elected for second term.[12] Fiala's education advisor Václav Klaus Jr. rejoined the party in January 2017.[13] Klaus' father is a founder and the first leader of ODS and speculations that Klaus Jr. will become a rival to Fiala started. The leadership election will be held after 2017 legislative election. The result of the leadership election is expected be influenced by the legislative election.[14][8][15]

Jaroslav Kubera stated on 14 August 2017 that 2018 leadership election will depend on party's result in 2017 legislative election. Kubera believes that if ODS receives less than 10%, Fiala will definitely be replaced as the leader.[16] On 6 October 2017, Fiala stated that he doesn't intend to resign if ODS gets less than 10%.[17]

ODS eventually received over 11% of votes and came second.[18] The result was received positively in the party. Václav Klaus Jr. on the other hand stated that 11% is a poor result that doesn't give the party a chance to uphold its ideas and also means that ODS will remain in opposition.[19] Fiala himself stated that he will most likely seek reelection.[20]

On 23 October 2017, Klaus Jr. stated that he believes he has a friendly relationship with Fiala and voices saying that he is Fiala's opponent are false[21] On 5 November 2017, Vysočina regional organisation of ODS nominated Petr Fiala for the position of leader.[22] Klaus Jr. ruled out his candidacy on 29 November 2017.[5] Fiala received nomination from Prague organisation on the same day.[23] On 1 December 2017, Fiala received nomination from Ústí regional organisation.[24] Central Bohemian organisation gave nomination to Fiala on 2 December 2017.[1] Liberec region gave its nomination for Fiala on 6 December 2017.[25] On 18 December 2017, Fiala received nomination from Olomuc regional organisation.[26] Petr Fiala attended a congress of Hradec Králové organisation of the party. He thanked members of the organisation for their work and stated that fight for survival of ODS is finished. Fiala then received nomination from the congress.[27][28] South Bohemian ODS held a congress on 8 January 2018. It endorsed Fiala. The leader of South Bohemian ODS Martin Kuba stated that Fiala helped to get ODS from problems it had in 2013. He believes ODS doesn't have a persona that could replace Fiala.[29] Fiala himself attended congress of Plzeň region organisation and received its nomination.[30]

Voting
Candidate Vote %
Petr Fiala 451 93.37%
Against 32 7.63%

Fiala received nominations from all 14 regional organisations of the party and was the only candidate.[31][32][33] Fiala talked about 2018 presidential election in his candidacy speech and stated that he wants Czech people to vote. He also warned against populist and stated that ODS should attract voters with ideas and a right-wing program.[34] Of 544 delegates, 503 attended party's congress and thus participated in the election. Fiala needed to receive at least 252 votes. He received 451 votes of 483. 12 votes were invalid while 8 delegates didn't vote.[35]

References
  1. "Středočeská ODS má nového předsedu. Je jím..." Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  2. "ODS je žádaná koaliční nevěsta. Náruč liberálům ale neotevírá". Pressreader. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. "Václav Klaus mladší může uspět, připouští šéf ODS. Má jméno i ostré názory". seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. "Stane se Andrej Babiš předsedou vlády? Bookmakeři to vidí jako tutovku s kurzem 1,3:1". Web4Trader (in Czech). Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  5. Vaverková, Karolína (29 November 2017). "Pro někoho jsem moc napravo, říká Klaus mladší. Pražská ODS ho do vedení nezvolila". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. "ODS si na kongresu v Ostravě zvolí nové vedení". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  7. "ZVĚŘINA: Prosecká dynastie. Klaus mladší spasitelem ODS nebude". Lidovky.cz. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  8. Honzejk, Petr (26 January 2017). "Václav Klaus mladší jede. Vyfoukne Petru Fialovi ODS?". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  9. "Předseda ODS Klaus? Klidně se toho prý můžeme opět dočkat". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  10. "Mladý Klaus bude nový předseda ODS. A Zeman ty volby vyhraje. Ale ono je to jedno, Schulzové a Junckerové stejně stáhnou Evropu do pekla a války. Ještě že už jsem tak starý, oceňuje senátor Kubera". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  11. "Václav Klaus mladší: Majdan naši vládní krizi nevyřeší. Valachová utekla. Já a předseda ODS? Je to takto". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  12. "ODS si volí nové vedení. Předsedou bude Fiala, první místopředsedkyní Udženija". Lidovky.cz. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  13. Nachtmann, Filip (19 January 2016). "Klaus mladší se vrací do ODS. Stane se jedním z volebních lídrů?". Echo24 (in Czech). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  14. "Václav Klaus mladší jako restaurátor české pravice". Tiscali.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  15. Fajtová, Magdaléna. "Politolog: Klaus mladší se bude o hlasy tahat s Okamurou a Machem". Týdeník Respekt. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  16. "Dvouciferný výsledek, jinak budou v ODS po volbách padat hlavy". iDNES.cz. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  17. "Fiala: Dovedu si představit, že Babiš po volbách skončí v opozici". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  18. "ODS slaví těsné stříbro, ve Sněmovně pokračuje i matador Benda". iDNES.cz. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  19. "Zatímco se v ODS jásalo a tleskalo, Václav Klaus ml. neslavil. Řekl nám proč". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  20. "Do Průhonic nepojedu. O uspořádání Sněmovny se má jednat ve Sněmovně, vzkázal šéf ODS Babišovi". seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  21. "Václav Klaus ml. o tom, zda má jít ODS s Babišem do vlády". seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  22. "ODS: Petr Fiala získal na Vysočině 1. nominaci na předsedu". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  23. "Smůla, Klausi mladší. O pár hlasů. Více ze sněmu pražské ODS". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  24. Fiala, Petr (1 December 2017). "Děkuji všem delegátům regionálního sněmu ODS v Ústeckém kraji za včerejší nominaci na předsedu ODS a gratuluji Karlu Krejzovi k obhájení funkce předsedy regionu.pic.twitter.com/XEq4sahE4v". @P_Fiala (in Czech). Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  25. "Petr Fiala". Facebook.com (in Czech). Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  26. "Olomoucká ODS nominovala na předsedu strany Petra Fialu". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  27. "ODS hradeckého kraje nominovala na šéfa strany Petra Fialu". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  28. "Fiala (ODS): Doba boje o záchranu ODS je už za námi". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  29. "Členové jihočeské ODS podpoří Petra Fialu na post předsedy strany". Parlamentní Listy. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  30. "Petr Fiala". Facebook.com (in Czech). Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  31. "ODS si o víkendu zvolí v Ostravě nové vedení". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  32. Neprašová, Veronika (12 January 2018). "ODS na kongresu v Ostravě otevírá Pandořinu skříňku. Hlasy vylučující koalici s ANO slábnou". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  33. "Fiala, Udženija nebo Tošenovský. ODS si v Ostravě zvolí nové vedení". Lidovky.cz. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  34. "Fiala na kongresu ODS: Na trend silných slov a slabých programů jsme neskočili". ČT24 (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  35. "Petr Fiala obhájil post předsedy ODS". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 13 January 2018.
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