2008 Civic Democratic Party leadership election

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) leadership election of 2008 was a part of party's congress. It happened after ODS lost Senate election and regional elections. Incumbent leader and Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek faced Mayor of Prague Pavel Bém who was supported by President Václav Klaus.[1]

7 December 2008
Turnout89.8%
 
Candidate Mirek Topolánek Pavel Bém
Electoral vote 284 162
Percentage 63.7% 36.3%
Leader of ODS before election

Mirek Topolánek

 Elected Leader of ODS

Mirek Topolánek

Topolánek was re-elected when he received votes from 284 delegates while Bém received only 162 votes. 492 delegates could participate in election. Topolánek promised to learn from his mistakes and said that he will unite the party.[2] Bém congratulated Topolánek but later saif that even though he respects him, he doesn't think that ODS will win next election if Topolánek is the leader of ODS.[3]

Background

Mirek Topolánek became leader of ODS in 2002. He was reelected in 2004 and 2006. ODS won under his leadership 2006 legislative election but in 2008, ODS suffered heavy defeat in regional and senate elections. Topolánek was blamed for the defeat and was speculated to be replaced in incoming leadership election. Pavel Bém was speculated to be his rival.[4][5][6] Topolánek stated on 19 October 2008 that he plans to run for reelection.[7]

Pavel Bém announced his candidacy on 27 October 2008. He was supported by President of the Czech Republic and founder of ODS Václav Klaus. He stated that his candidacy is a reaction party's defeat in 2008 elections. Bém was endorsed by party's regional governors. It was believed that Topolánek will be defeated by Bém.[8][9] There were other politicians who expressed interest in the election Oldřich Vojíř stated that he plans to run for the position. Jan Zahradil would run if the election is deadblocked. Petr Bendl also considered running. Evžen Tošenovský and Miroslava Němcová were speculated to run. Němcová hereself dismissed speculations that she plans to run against Topolánek while Tošenovský stated that he doesn't know whether he will run for the position.[10][11]

Topolánek officially announced his candidacy on 2 November 2008.[12][13] Topolánek was endorsed by some influential politicians within the party such as Ivan Langer, Jiří Pospíšil and Tomáš Julínek.[14][15] Topolánek was supported by large portion of party's members. His supporters included some celebrities such as director Filip Renč or actress Daniela Šinkorová. Topolánek started to gather new allies.[11] Topolánek quickly gathered nominations from multiple party's organisations. On 25 November 2008, Toolánek received nomination from Prague organisation that was considered Bém's stronghold.[16] Bém's victory was considered unlikely.[17]

Václav Klaus gave up his title as Honorary Chairman of the party before the election took place. Klaus stated that he has problem to identify with party's politics for very long time.[18] He thanked the party for help during presidential elections. He stated that he realises that he would never be a president if there was no ODS and thanked for previous 18 years that he lived together with ODS. Klaus' decision led to many emotional reactions among members of the party.[19]

Opinion polls
AgencyDateSampleMirek TopolánekPavel BémEvžen TošenovskýMiroslava NěmcováJan ZahradilPetr GandalovičPetr BendlPřemysl SobotkaNot Decided
iHNed.cz[20]5 December 2008305 Prague Citizens30.5%33.4%N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A33.1%
Median[21]1 December 20085366.1%12.5%8.0%6.5%N/AN/A4.8%6.2%54.9%
iDnes[22]24 November 200825,94015.67%17.68%48.41%N/AN/A5.13%3.82%N/A9.3%
Denik.cz[23]11 November 20081,268 readers of Denik.cz22%9%49%5%1%N/AN/AN/A14%

Voting
Candidate Vote %
Mirek Topolánek 284 63.7
Pavel Bém 162 36.3

Topolánek was considered front-runner. He received 284 votes against Bém's 162 and won the election.[24]

Aftermath

Topolánek remained party's leader until 2010 when he was replaced by Petr Nečas.[25]

References
  1. "Bém se o své kandidatuře na předsedu ODS radil s Klausem". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. "VIDEO: Topolánek zůstává šéfem ODS, "dvojkou" strany je Vodrážka". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. "S Topolánkem prohrajeme příští volby, soudí poražený Pavel Bém". iDNES.cz. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. "Kdo může za největší volební prohru v historii ODS". iDNES.cz. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. "Proč prohrála ODS volby? I kvůli hádkám". TÝDEN.cz. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  6. "Bém nevyloučil kandidaturu na předsedu ODS". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  7. "Topolánek: Budu obhajovat funkci předsedy ODS". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. televize, Česká. "Bém chce kandidovat na předsedu ODS, svůj úmysl konzultoval s Klausem". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  9. "Bém se o své kandidatuře na předsedu ODS radil s Klausem". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  10. "Na funkci šéfa ODS je fronta. Přibyli Vojíř a Zahradil". TÝDEN.cz. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  11. "Topolánek shání hlasy a láká do vlády hejtmany". iDNES.cz. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  12. "Topolánek: Budu obhajovat post šéfa ODS". TÝDEN.cz. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  13. "Topolánek oznámil, že bude obhajovat post šéfa ODS a vymění ministry". iDNES.cz. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  14. "Julínek: Topolánka na kongresu podpořím". TÝDEN.cz. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  15. "Já věřím v sílu Mirka, říká Ivan Langer". TÝDEN.cz. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  16. "Topolánka chtějí za předsedu ODS už i v Praze". iDNES.cz. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  17. "Bendl před sjezdem ODS: Bém bojuje prohranou válku". iDNES.cz. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  18. "Šéfem ODS zůstává Topolánek, Klaus odchází". Euro.cz (in Czech). 8 December 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  19. "VIDEO: Klaus skončil s ODS, stranu rozladil i rozplakal". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  20. "Blesková anketa: U Pražanů vyhrál Bém, ale těsně". iHNed.cz (in Czech). 5 December 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  21. "Topolánka chce v čele ODS jen 6 procent lidí, Béma 12 procent". iDNES.cz. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  22. "ANKETA: Kdo má šanci vystřídat Topolánka v čele ODS?". iDNES.cz. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  23. "ANKETA: Kdo by měl být předsedou ODS?". Deník.cz (in Czech). 11 November 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  24. televize, Česká. "Mirek Topolánek obhájil funkci předsedy ODS". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  25. "Mirek Topolánek končí v čele ODS. Nahradí ho Nečas". iROZHLAS (in Czech). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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