The campaign team behind Preaisk state representative Janoslav Csoňka’s bid to become the Unionist Party’s candidate for Prime Minister, in the upcoming June legislative elections, has issued a statement saying he now has the required support to win the nomination.
According to the rules issued in late January by the committee overseeing the contest, any eventual nominee would need to secure the votes of 55% of the party’s caucus in the Federal Executive – something Mr Csoňka is now reported to have achieved. This would mean that he now has enough support to win the nomination by default – without a vote. Only 35% of the Unionist caucus’ was required to force a contest but the rules had been drafted to try and bolster the chances of current party leader Bartek Bagdat. They however have seemingly failed to create enough of a hurdle for his challenger to meet given that Mr Csoňka, 45, is now expected to make a statement over the next 24 hours – in which he will ask the party leader to stand aside in the battle, making him the party’s official candidate for Prime Minister.
Csoňka’s election is expected to result in the Unionist Party making its most aggressive pitch for the leadership of the country in two decades – as the party tries to win a majority in the House of Deputies for the first time since the formation of the modern Federal Republic in 2003, followed by a bid to retain the presidency for a record fourth term. The party has only previously formed a government once, between 2007 and 2008, when the Centrist Party under Koruin Gruaman lost its majority and Marina Yanaka resigned as Prime Minister, enabling Maksim Obelschenko to form a government after the election of Pavel Lukyanov as President. The incumbent in that role, Ivan Tattar, is expected to win a second term. Csoňka would himself however be the most junior nominee for Prime Minister since Mr Gruaman first stood for the role as head of state in 2003.
The Preaisk representative who has a limited political career, but whose rise has been meteoric – made a name for himself as an avid campaigner for an increase in housing standards. He, like Gruaman, also has a legal background and was a rumored candidate for the governorship of his home state before instead stating that he wanted to help lead the Union Party to victory in the legislative elections – becoming what he calls a ‘dependable partner’ for President Tattar in Karasciena. His charismatic personality and experience as an outsider from the capital has led to being one of the most popular politicians in the country – and surprisingly well known for someone who has only served in politics at the state level.
Mr Bagdat is expected to remain as Union Party leader – although his position is now complicated by the inevitable nomination of Mr Csoňka, who is known to have been privately supported by President Tattar. The party is now expected to organise an event to unveil Mr Csoňka together with Mr Tattar as the party’s new leadership team over the coming weeks.
