TOP 09 party may face change-of-guard in November

TOP 09 leader Karel Schwarzenberg has indicated he may not run for re-election as party chair at the party’s upcoming election conference in November. Mr. Schwarzenberg, who will turn 78 in December, told the daily Pravo that he was considering leaving the top post due to progressive loss of hearing which made it difficult for him to perform his duties as chairman. A party leader who can’t keep abreast in a debate is no good, he told the paper. However he said he would retain his seat in the lower house and hoped to help the party in election campaigns. Party deputy Miroslav Kalousek confirmed that should Karel Schwarzenberg not run for re-election, he would make a bid for the party top post.