Spidla Elected Czech Ruling Party New LeaderThe ruling Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) elected Vladimir Spidla as its chairman on April 7, replacing Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman who resigned the post on April 6 after eight years.CSSD deputy chairman Spidla is the only candidate to run for the post. The 49-year-old Vice-Premier and Labor and Social Affairs Minister will lead the party in the parliamentary elections next year. Zeman, who led the party to electoral victory in 1998, remains a CSSD leadership member and will head the government until the general election. CSSD claimed victory over ex-premier Vaclav Klaus's right-wing Civil Democratic Party in the parliamentary elections in 1998. In his speech before the vote, Spidla said that all party members should work together to win the coming parliamentary elections again. He also stressed that the aim of both the CSSD and the Czech Republic is to reach high labor productivity and a sustainable growth in a long term with adequate social conditions. Meanwhile, Spidla noted that the entry of the European Union had a great economic importance for the Czech Republic and would create much better conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. |
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