He was the first chairman of the Czechoslovak People's Party[2] and was a Monsignor in the Catholic church.

[3] From 1945 on Czechoslovakia was ruled by the Communist-dominated National Front which also included Šrámek's People's Party.

Šrámek and the rest of his coalition worried about the increasing role of the Communist Party.

To consolidate power, the Communists carried out a coup in February 1948.

His successor, Rostislav Petr, and Josef Plojhar, a "strong man" in the People's Party, were fellow travelers who supported unconditional collaboration with the Communists.