Paroubek: Social Democrat Party needs to modernise, open itself to public

Social Democrat chairman and former prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, says his party needs to modernise and open itself to the public. Speaking on Saturday at regional conferences ahead of the March party congress, Mr Paroubek said the party's should revitalise and rejuvenate at all levels as soon as possible. Mr Paroubek also said he would like to see the percentage of women in the 17,000-member party increase. He reiterated the Social Democrats, who came second in last year's general elections, are not going to support the proposed centre-right cabinet of Mirek Topolanek in a confidence vote. The South and Karlovy Vary regional branches of the Social Democratic Party on Saturday pledged support for Mr Paroubek for the upcoming party congress which will elect a new party chief.