Hašek refuses to go, compares situation in Social Democratic Party to “witch hunt”

Social Democratic Party deputy leader Michal Hašek, who admitted to lying publicly this week about a secret post-election with President Miloš Zeman, made clear on Wednesday he would not step down. He and other senior Social Democrats Zdeněk Škromach, Jeroným Tejc and Jiří Zimola all met with the president at a secret meeting last weekend; Mr Hašek had maintained such a meeting never took place.

Following Wednesday’s admission, the party’s chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said that either he or Mr Hašek would have to go and said a meeting of the party’s executive committee (set for November 10) would resolve the matter. Mr Hašek, in reaction, compared developments within the Social Democratic Party to a “witch hunt”. On Thursday, he himself apologised and said he would weigh possible steps on November 10.

Author: Jan Velinger