Today, Janeček sent the announcement of the formation of the faction to the regional secretariats of the ODS. He claims that members from all over the republic report to him. “We have decided to establish an ‘ODS Right Faction’ within the party. This will enable the registration and communication of ODS members with suitable opinions, subscribing to the traditional conservative current, “the announcement states.

Janecek said it was his private initiative. “I want to help the ODS, this is not a split party. It is an attempt to create a communication tool within the ODS, “he said. The faction should rely on the so-called Poděbrady articles, which the party adopted in 1998 and which are one of the basic programming documents of the ODS. “It is common for factions to form within the world, which then explain their views to the president. But we will respect the opinion confirmed, “remarked Janeček. According to him, the parties could have different opinions within themselves and would not have to say to the media.

The party’s deputy chairwoman, Miroslava Nemcova, considers the formation of a faction to be pointless. ” I don’t see a reason why new platforms should be created now, “she told ČTK.

On the contrary, the former chairman of the Prague ODS, Boris Šťastný, considers the formation of party factions to be commonplace, and in this case, according to him, it is a reflection of growing dissatisfaction among the ODS. “The situation in the ODS is getting worse… This is due to the reluctance of the leadership to self-reflection,” he told E15.cz. He did not want to comment on Janeček’s initiative until he became better known.

Jihoměstská ODS does not agree

Part of the ODS leadership in Prague 11 is distancing itself from Janeček’s initiatives; according to some members, the regional association has never discussed this. “The emergence of various factions and similar groups within the party will not strengthen it, so it is impossible to agree with them. ODS Prague 11 has proven many times that its effort is and the priority is a unified and strong ODS and it still lasts, “said Vice President Jan Gabriel.

“The material is made up of the subjective feelings of Mr. Jiří Janeček and I fundamentally disagree with them and I do not complain. It would be very good if in the current situation the ODS acted as a unified whole and various just or false factions were not formed, which can only weaken the party in their essence, “said the mayor of Prague 11 Dalibor Mlejnský.

A series of defeats increases tension

Tensions are rising in the ODS over several electoral defeats in a row; in the presidential election, party candidate Přemysl Sobotka won just under 2.5 percent of the vote. According to the current survey by the Center for Public Opinion Research voters in the ODS parliamentary elections would give only 13 percent of the vote. A year and a half before the election, on the other hand, the coalition partner TOP 09 strengthened in the survey.

Recently, discussions also began on the selection of a new party election leader, most often talked about former Minister Jiří Pospíšil or Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kub. The party would lag behind the unpopular Prime Minister Petr Nečas before the election.