RPT-Czech centrists elect controversial new leader

(Repeats story published on Dec 9)

BRNO, Czech Republic, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The centrist Czech Christian Democrats elected controversial Jiri Cunek as their new leader on Saturday in a move that is unlikely to affect the current coalition government talks.

Cunek sparked a wave of controversy recently when, as mayor of the city of Zlin, he moved dozens of Romany, or gypsy, families from their homes and resettled then in container-like flats on the city outskirts and elsewhere in the region.

The move touched off a wave of criticism from human rights groups and even some within his own party. Cunek has been unrepentant, saying the families had stopped paying rent and had no right to remain in the housing.

Cunek, 47 and also a member of the Czech Senate, easily won the party leadership vote in the first round with 182 of the 312 votes cast.

Former leader Miroslav Kalousek stepped down in August and did not seek the post again. Cunek beat three other candidates.

Immediately after winning a majority of the votes, he said he believed the party's platform did not need changing.

He also said he supports ongoing talks to form a coalition government with three parties, including the rightist Civic Democrats, leftist Social Democrats, or possibly even a fourth party, the Greens.

"We will give priority to a government based on either three or four parties with a mandate for the entire electoral term (four years) that will push reforms," he said.

Parliament has been deadlocked amid a battle between leftist and centre-right parties to form a government after a June general election saw both sides win exactly 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house. ((Reporting by Alan Crosby, editing by Stephen Weeks; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS/PARTY