1998 Freedom Union leadership election

1998 Freedom Union leadership election
Turnout	95.8%
	Elected Leader of US ; Jan Ruml;

A leadership election for the Freedom Union (US) was held in the Czech Republic on 17 January 1998. Jan Ruml was elected the first leader of the party when he defeated businessman Karel Cieslar and Mayor of Kutná Hora Ivo Šanc.^[1]

Background

Freedom Union was founded in 1998 as a split from the Civic Democratic Party. It was a result of a political crisis that started during 1997.^[2]

Ruml received 214 votes. His rivals Cieslar and Šanc received 47 and 29 votes respectively. 290 delegates voted.^[3]

^ "Prvním cílem unie jsou volby". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). 23 February 1998. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
^ "Veřejnost si od Unie svobody slibovala změnu politického stylu". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
^ "Co je nového v České republice". md.blisty.cz. Retrieved 29 January 2018.

v t e Freedom Union – Democratic Union (US–DEU)
Leaders	Jan Ruml Karel Kühnl Hana Marvanová Ivan Pilip (interim) Petr Mareš Pavel Němec Jan Černý
Leadership elections	1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2007
Presidential candidates	Václav Havel Petr Pithart Jaroslava Moserová Jan Sokol (philosopher)
Alliances	Four-Coalition Union of Liberal Democrats
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