# 2024 Social Democracy (Czech Republic) leadership election

A leadership election for the Social Democracy (SOCDEM) will be held in October 2024. Michal Šmarda does not run for re-election.

## Background

SOCDEM participated in 2021 Czech legislative election, receiving only 4.65% votes and lost all its seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Leader Jan Hamáček announced he would resign as a result. Michal Šmarda was elected new leader afterwards. After 2024 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic, Šmarda announced new leadership election will be held in October 2024. Šmarda resigned as party after 2024 Czech regional elections in September 2024 stating that SOCDEM should be led by Social Democrat who succeeded in regional elections. Šmarda mentioned Pardubice regional Governor Martin Netolický and Mayor of Rokytnice v Orlických horách Jiří Štěpán as potential successors. Jana Maláčová stated that she considers running and eventually announced candidacy on 24 September 2024. On 1 October 2024 Jiří Dienstbier Jr. announced candidacy.
Maláčová stated her support for a broad left-wing coalition based on the New Popular Front and did not rule out talks with the socially conservative Stačilo!. This would violate the Bohumínský Resolution from 1995, in which they denounced any cooperation with extremist parties like KSČM. Maláčová criticized SOCDEM for not attacking the government enough and stated that their main task should berise of poverty and decrease of living standards rather than socio-cultural issues. Meanwhile Dienstbier emphasized the need for a "modern European-style left-wing party" and stated his support for a coalition with the progressive Green Party and Budoucnost.

## Candidates

* Jiří Dienstbier Jr., former Minister of the Czech Republic for Human Rights and Equal Opportunities
* Petr Hůla, Prague 12 Councillor
* Jana Maláčová, former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.

### Potential candidates

* Jiří Štěpán, Mayor of Rokytnice v Orlických horách. Suggested by Šmarda as potential candidate.

### Declined to run

* Martin Netolický, Pardubice regional governor. Suggested by Šmarda as potential candidate but he declined to run.

## Endorsements

* Oto Novotný, long-time adviser to the chairmen of the ČSSD
* Tomáš Petříček, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Jan Chvojka, former Minister for Human Rights and Equal Opportunities
* Lukáš Nozar [cs], candidate for senate from Mladá Boleslav
* Josef Středula, chairman of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions
* Matěj Stropnický, former Leader of the Green Party (Independent)
* Lubomír Zaorálek, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Minister of Culture, 2023 leadership candidate

## Voting

Voting was held on 5 October 2024. 152 delegates were present.
| Candidate | Vote | % |
| Jana Maláčová | 101 | 66.44 |
| Jiří Dienstbier Jr. | 33 | 21.71 |
| Petr Hůla | 5 | 3.29 |
| None of the above | 13 | 8.55 |

## Reactions

The Left congratulated Maláčová and stated that her election "raised expectations that it would be possible to start broad cooperation across left-wing entities." On 20 October, both Maláčová and Czech Sovereignty of Social Democracy (ČSSD) leader Jiří Paroubek called for a left-wing alliance.
Two former minister, Tomáš Petříček and Petra Buzková left the party following the election of Maláčová. Shortly after their departure, Petříček, former Piráti MEP Mikuláš Peksa, vice leader of Green Party Tomáš Mígl and leader of Budoucnost Jakub Kovařík signed a manifesto calling for cooperation between the progressive movements and the creation an "alternative bloc" to the government composed of SPOLU and STAN and to the opposition composed of ANO and SPD. Dienstbier later signed the manifesto. Also former Czech ambassador to NATO Jakub Landovský left the party due to disagreement with the new party direction.