Prague - Two Czech MPs that helped the Social Democrats topple Topolánek's government have joined the recently newly formed right-wing party Libertas.cz. Vlastimil Tlustý and Jan Schwippel intend to run in the European Parliament elections.
Czech branch Libertas was registered in the Czech Republic by member of the European Parliament (MEP) Vladimír Železný and it cooperates with the Libertas.eu founded by Irish millionaire and eurosceptic Declan Ganley.
Both of the MPs have been highly critical of Mirek Topolánek's ODS leadership. Jan Schippel told idnes.cz daily online that Topolánek tried to bribe him in the past.
Following the no-confidence vote, the ODS executive board called on the regional offices to expel the two defectors.
Tlustý first refused to leave the party but he issued an official announcement about the suspension of his ODS membership. The Rakovník regional expelled the rebel member.
According to the office head Zdeněk Nejdl, Tlustý membership ceased to exist at the moment he announced his intention to run for EP elections for Libertas.cz.
When asked by the Beroun regional ODS to leave the party, Jan Schwippel did so a few days later.
