The election was held as a result of party's defeat in the 2010 legislative elections, in which the KDU-ČSL received less than 5% of the vote and failed to pass the electoral threshold. Then-leader Cyril Svoboda resigned and the party was temporarily headed by Michaela Šojdrová until the leadership election was held.[2] Šojdrová originally did not plan to participate in the election,[3] but later changed her mind and announced her candidature on 10 November 2010.[4] Pavel Bělobrádek became his main rival. Other candidates were Jaroslav Orel and Jiřina Štouračová; Jiří Carbol also ran, but withdrew before voting began. A total of 459 delegates were allowed to vote.[5]
