AUSLAND
Anzeige
Vladimir Spidla to lead Czech Social Democrats

Sonntag, 8. April 2001 / 14:50 Uhr

Prague - The Czech Republic's ruling Social Democrats ended a three-day party congress Sunday after electing Vladimir Spidla, 49, as chairman to succeed Prime Minister Milos Zeman, 56.

Spidla, who is currently Labour Affairs Minister and is regarded as a backer of the Social Democrats' moderate left wing, will lead his party into the 2002 elections. He was elected for a two-year term with 87.5 per cent of the votes. Zeman, who was chairman for eight years, will stay on as prime minister until the general elections next year but plans to retire from active politics thereafter.

Spidla told the party congress his main priority was getting the country ready for membership in the European Union. Zeman leads a minority government where the Social Democrats have parliamentary backing from the Civic Democrats. (dpa)