PRAGUE - The leadership of Social Democracy is facing harsh criticism over its decision to establish cooperation with the leftist Stačilo! movement, which includes members of the former Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. Michal Šmarda, the party's former chairman, was very critical of the plan and called it a mistake. In his view, it is a departure from the values on which SOCDEM has historically stood.
Šmard's disappointment is shared by other party members. The decision to leave the party because of this strategy was joined by Pardubice Governor Martin Netolický.
"This move is beyond the edge of acceptable for me. Social Democracy should not associate itself with the radical left," he said. According to available information, several long-time members have left the party. Some officials remain reticent in their assessment. Wednesday's announcement by chairwoman Jana Maláčová that SOCDEM will seek closer cooperation with the "Enough!" movement was described as a surprise by some of those approached. Others declined to comment on the move. Former MP and Senator Alena Gajdůšková initially considered the decision a logical move in light of the efforts to unite the left-wing forces. However, she later reconsidered her position and joined the critics.
On the contrary, the chair of the regional organization of SOCDEM in the Karlovy Vary Region, Tomáš Svoboda, expressed support for Maláčová's plan. In his view, the merger with the Stačilo! movement is a chance to reach voters who have lost confidence in traditional left-wing parties.
The decision to cooperate comes at a time when SOCDEM is facing a long-term decline in preferences and is seeking to return to the political scene. The question remains whether the current strategy will help the party win back lost voters or lead to a further weakening of its membership base.
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