Prague - Pavel Bém, the first deputy chairman of the Civic Democrats (ODS) and Prague mayor, announced on Monday 27 October he will attempt to replace PM Mirek Topolánek as ODS chairman at a party congress in December.

"If there is a metre of water in the hull and it's rising people on the bridge deck can't pretend there's nothing wrong. Unfortunately, that is exactly how the current captain is acting. That is why I'll ask the crew if they think a change of command is needed," said Bém.

He ruled out that the ODS would seek a grand coalition with the opposition Social Democrats (ČSSD). "I'm offering to repair the ship and modify the course towards conservative values and prosperity," he said.

The split within the ODS and calls for new leadership came after the senior ruling party suffered a major defeat in regional elections and Senate by-elections in the past weeks. The ČSSD won all 13 regions and 23 of the 27 Senate seats that were subject to the polls. The ODS was only successful in three senatorial districts in Prague.

Topolánek says he will face Bém

On Monday, Topolánek admitted that he might withdraw his bid for re-election and support a new party leader at the upcoming congress, provided that the candidate would preserve the party's unity and further the ODS policies together with the current coalition partners, the Christian Democrats and the Greens.

After Bém's statement, Topolánek said that Bém does not meet his conditions. In an interview for the daily Lidové noviny, the premier said that if Bém is running for party leader, he will face him.