2003 Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party leadership election

A leadership election for Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-ČSL) was held on 8 November 2003. The incumbent leader Cyril Svoboda was unexpectedly defeated by Miroslav Kalousek.[1][2]

8 November 2003

Candidate Miroslav Kalousek Cyril Svoboda Electoral vote 164 135 Percentage 54.6% 43.6

leader of KDU-ČSL before election Cyril Svoboda Elected leader of KDU-ČSL Miroslav Kalousek

Candidates

• Cyril Svoboda - the incumbent leader of KDU-ČSL was endorsed by Czech Social Democratic Party leader Vladimír Špidla and was considered left-wing candidate. He was considered front-runner of the election.[3][4]
• Miroslav Kalousek - Kalousek was considered more right-wing candidate than Svoboda. He was endorsed by Civic Democratic Party leader Mirek Topolánek.[5]
• Jaromír Talíř - Considered the outsider of the election.
• Libor Ambrozek - Minister of environment. He had support in Moravian regions and offered himself as a centrist candidate.[6]

Result

Candidate	1st round	2nd round
Miroslav Kalousek	135 (45.1%)	164 (54.6%)
Cyril Svoboda	116 (38.7%)	135 (43.6%)
Jaromír Talíř	22 (7.3%)	-
Libor Ambrozek	20 (6.6%)	-

References

1. "Novým šéfem lidovců se stal Kalousek". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 22 January 2017.
2. "Kalousek je novým šéfem lidovců". iDNES.cz. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
3. "Kalousek chce srazit Svobodu z trůnu". iDNES.cz. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
4. "Kalousek". iDNES.cz. 8 November 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
5. "Profil nového předsedy KDU-ČSL Miroslava Kalouska". iDNES.cz. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
6. "Chci šéfovat lidovcům, potvrdil Ambrozek". iDNES.cz. 8 September 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2017.