2017 TOP 09 leadership election

Czech political party TOP 09 held a leadership election on 26 November 2017, following the party's poor result in the 2017 Czech legislative election.[2] Jiří Pospíšil was elected as the new leader.[3]

2017 TOP 09 leadership election
26 November 2017[1]
 
Nominee Jiří Pospíšil Pavel Němec
Party TOP 09 TOP 09
Electoral vote 147 13
Percentage 83.05% 7.34%
Leader of TOP 09 before election

Miroslav Kalousek

 Elected Leader of TOP 09

Jiří Pospíšil

Background

Miroslav Kalousek was elected leader in 2015. His term expired in November 2017. It was speculated that the outcome of the election would depend on the party's result in the 2017 legislative election.[4] Kalousek said that he would resign if the party achieved a poor result in the election.[5]

The party was heavily defeated and received only 5%. Speculation about possible successors to Kalousek started, centring on Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Jiří Pospíšil.[2] On 24 October 2017, Kalousek announced that he would not seek reelection.[6]

Campaign

Pekarová Adamová said she was considering running and that she would decide within a week,[7] eventually deciding not to run, to focus on her family instead.[8] Ludmila Štvánová announced her candidacy on 3 November 2017.[9] On 4 November 2017, MEP Luděk Niedermayer joined the party, provoking speculation about his possible candidacy. Jakub Lepš, whose candidacy was suggested by Karel Schwarzenberg, admitted that he could run.[10]

On 4 November 2017, the Prague branch of TOP 09 nominated Jiří Pospíšil for party leader. Pospíšil later confirmed his candidacy. He also received support from regional branches in Plzeň, South Moravia and Hradec Králové.[11] By 25 November 2017, Pospíšil was the only official candidate, with Štvánová having failed to receive any nominations.[12] On 26 November 2017, Pavel Němec announced his candidacy.[13]

The election was held on 26 November 2017. Pospíšil received 147 votes of 177 and became the new leader. Němec received 13 votes.[14]

Candidates
  • Pavel Němec, Prostějov councillor and businessman. He announced his candidacy on 26 November 2017.[15]
  • Jiří Pospíšil, MEP. He stated that he intended to join the party, leading to speculation he might run for leader.[2] Following the legislative election some prominent party members announced they would nominate Pospíšil for the position of leader.[16] He announced his candidacy on 4 November 2017.
  • Ludmila Štvánová, announced her candidacy on 3 November 2017.[9] She failed to receive any nominations for the position.[17]

Declined
  • Tomáš Czernin, Senator. Mentioned as a possible candidate.[9]
  • Miroslav Kalousek, incumbent leader. He announced on 24 October 2017 that he would not run for reelection.
  • Jakub Lepš, Deputy Mayor of Prague. Karel Schwarzenberg suggested him as a candidate,[18] but he decided to not run.[17]
  • Luděk Niedermayer, MEP. Mentioned as a possible candidate,[9] but stated on 4 November that he would not run.[19]
  • Markéta Pekarová Adamová, MP. She was suggested as a possible candidate.[2] On 24 October 2017 she stated that she was considering running,[20] but on 26 October 2017 announced that she would not run.[8]
  • Marek Ženíšek, MP and Deputy leader. He was suggested by Vít Peštuka as a possible candidate, but endorsed Pospíšil.[21]

Results
Candidate Votes %
Jiří Pospíšil14783.05
Pavel Němec137.34
Against179.6
Total177100

References
  1. "Organizační informace pro účastníky 5. celostátního sněmu". TOP 09 (in Czech). Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  2. "TOP 09 hledá náhradu za Kalouska". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. "Šéfem TOP 09 je Pospíšil, varoval před spasiteli". seznam.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  4. "Skončí Kalousek a celá TOP 09? Politolog má velmi špatné zprávy". Eurozprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. "Kalousek připustil konec v čele TOP 09, když strana neuspěje ve volbách". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 13 February 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. Vilímová, Tereza (24 October 2017). "Konec Kalouska v čele TOP 09. "Z vysoké politiky neodcházím"". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  7. "Adamová: Kolegové mě žádají, ať Kalouska nahradím. Zvažuji to". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. "Adamová Kalouska v čele TOP 09 nenahradí, dá přednost rodině". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  9. "Kalouska chce v čele TOP 09 nahradit dáma z Prahy. Hodlá se znovu dostat do vlády". Parlamentní Listy (in Czech). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  10. "Europoslanec Niedermayer ohlásil vstup do TOP 09. Mohl by se stát jejím předsedou". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  11. "Pražská TOP 09 nominovala na předsedu strany Pospíšila". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  12. "Do čela TOP 09 chce zatím jen Pospíšil. Kalousek ani Schwarzenberg z toho nejásají". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  13. "O post předsedy TOP 09 usiluje i Němec". Euro.cz (in Czech). 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  14. "Kalousek má nástupce. Novým šéfem TOP 09 se stal Jiří Pospíšil". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  15. "Pospíšil vede TOP 09. Varoval před Babišem a putinovským Ruskem". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  16. "Kalousku, vzpoura. V TOP 09 se mluví o novém předsedovi, padá jméno Jiří Pospíšil". Parlamentní Listy (in Czech). Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  17. "Pospíšil je před sněmem TOP 09 jediným zájemcem o nejvyšší post". ceskenoviny.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  18. "Schwarzenberg ukázal na vhodného nástupce za Kalouska. A ten opravdu zvažuje kandidaturu". Parlamentní Listy (in Czech). Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  19. "Chceme Jiřího Pospíšila v čele TOP 09, zní z Prahy". Parlamentní Listy (in Czech). Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  20. "Kandidaturu do čela TOP 09 zvažuje staronová poslankyně Pekarová". Parlamentní listy (in Czech). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  21. "Kalousek nebude obhajovat funkci předsedy TOP 09. Pospíšilovi kandidaturu nedoporučil". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
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