Paroubek to lead LEV 21

Former Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek was elected chairman of his newly founded National Socialists-21st Century Left (LEV 21, also NS-LEV 21) party Nov. 26 with plans to lead the group in the regional elections in the Ústí region in 2012.

Paroubek, a longtime chairman of the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), was tapped to lead LEV 21 by a nearly unanimous 233-2 vote at the party's inaugural constituent congress. Two delegates abstained from the vote.

Paroubek left the ČSSD earlier in the year after growing disenchanted with the party's direction, which he felt had moved too far to the right. His goal for LEV 21, he said during a speech after his election, was to become a "dominant" left-wing party in Parliament following in the tradition of the National Socialist Party that existed in pre-World War II Czechoslovakia.

"The National Socialists were always a center-left party, and we'd like to continue building it this way," he said. "I'm not trying to create anything new or fill any gap [in Czech politics]. I just feel there is no party that will work for the public more than the benefit of its members."

The road to LEV 21's creation has been a rocky one for Paroubek, who in 2010 stepped down as chairman of the ČSSD after being its leader for four years. He left the post after his party's poor performance in the spring 2010 elections and after months of relative silence began talking about his growing disillusioned with the party he'd belonged to for 20 years.

After announcing plans to leave the ČSSD to establish a new left-of-center political entity, he entertained thoughts of reviving the moribund Czech National Socialist Party (ČSNS 2005), one of the country's oldest parties that was a tolerated opposition group under the communist regime. After negotiations between Paroubek and ČSNS 2005 Chairman Karel Janko broke down, Paroubek announced the creation of LEV 21, which quickly merged with ČSNS 2005, and Janko, who was against Paroubek interfering with his party, was expelled.

Janko and several members of ČSNS 2005 who did not merge with LEV 21 protested the party congress Nov. 26 by posting signs around the Prague Municipal House, where the event was held, accusing Paroubek of wanting to capitalize on the history of ČSNS 2005 while "hiding his dirt" in a "clean" party.

"I don't need to start something to make a lot of money for myself," Paroubek said. "I want to work for the people and in the interests of this country."

Paroubek said his goal is to enter the lower house with a strong performance in the 2014 general election. In the nearer term, Paroubek will be the party's election leader in the north Bohemian Ústí region in 2012.

Among LEV 21's members, Paroubek is considered a star, one who is viewed as the "leftist leader" the country desperately needs, said Jaroslav Král, head of the party's preparatory committee.

"Jiří Paroubek is every inch a socialist," he told the Czech News Agency.

Jack Buehrer can be reached at
jbuehrer@praguepost.com