Karel Schwarzenberg to step down as TOP 09 party leader

The leader of the TOP 09 political party and former Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, has announced that he will not stand for re-election to the top party post at its upcoming party congress. His position as party chairman was due to be renewed in November. Schwarzenberg, cited health reasons as one reason for his refusal to stand again. He denied, however, that he was withdrawing from public life and said he would stand in elections to the lower house of parliament as one of the leaders for the centre-right party in Prague. The front runner to lead the party would appear to be deputy chairman and former finance minister Miroslav Kalousek.

Author: Chris Johnstone