First names of the next Czech government
(B2) The Prime Minister designated to take over from Mirek Topolanek, who resigned after a motion of censure, Jan Fischer, current director of the Statistical Office, must present to Vaclav Klaus the President of the Republic, an initial list of his ministers , this Friday, April 24. This Czech government - which will have the tough task of assuming the presidency of the EU until June 30 - looks more like a transitional coalition government than a board of technicians. All the prospective candidates have, in fact, been chosen by the country's two main parties: the Christian Democrats (ODS) of resigning Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and the Social Democrats (CSSD) of Jiri Paroubek, as well as the Greens. Many of them have held senior or secondary political positions in the current government or in the past (ministerial or senior civil service) and are often members of one of these parties. They have an additional advantage over their predecessors, they display a perfect knowledge of the files. This will allow them to be immediately operational. The entry into office of the new ministers is scheduled for May 9. The last act of the resigning Topolanek government could be the vote by the Senate of the law ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon (condition imposed by the CSSD on its support for the transitional government).
Political and diplomatic trio for foreign relations
To Foreign Affairs, is approached Jan Kohout (CSSD). An experienced diplomat, connoisseur of European affairs, since he was a member of the European Convention and the first Czech ambassador to the EU after his country's accession (2004 to 2007). He distinguished himself in 2005 for having refused the office of Prime Minister. He had been removed from his post as ambassador in Brussels in 2008 to make way for a diplomat closer to the ODS. He is currently Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for cooperation and humanitarian aid.
To European affairs, two names have been circulating to replace Vladimir Vondra: the current Czech ambassador to NATO, Stefan Füle (proposed by the CSSD). A career diplomat, he also served as First Deputy Minister of Defense in the Social Democratic government (2001-2002). The name of Marek Mora, current Secretary of State at the Ministry for European Affairs, was also mentioned. Graduate of the universities of Prague and Hamburg, former official of the European Commission (DG Ecfin, after an internship at the DG Budget), and former vice-minister at the Ministry of Education.
Now Defense, the current Deputy Minister, Martin Bartak (ODS) would be appointed. A neurosurgeon by profession, he is his party's specialist in defense and security issues.
Other ministerial positions
• Justice, Daniela Kovarova (ODS, director of the Judicial Academy);
• Interior, Martin Pecina (CSSD, director of the Anti-Monopoly Office);
• Finance, Tomas Uvira (ODS, director at the Ministry of Finance for asset management);
• Labor and Social Affairs, Petr Simerska (CSSD, former Deputy Minister of Labor for several years);
• Health, Dana Juraskova (ODS, Director of the General University Hospital in Prague);
• Agriculture, Jakub Sebesta (CSSD, director of the Food and
Agriculture)
• Environment, Ladislav Miko (Director of Natural Protection at DG Environment of the European Commission)
• Spatial planning, Rostilav Vondruska (CSSD, director of the Czech Tourism Agency);
• Industry and trade, Ivo Pegrimek (CSSD, director of the Mining Administration);
• Transport, Gustav Slamecka (ODS, Deputy Minister of Transport);
• Education, Youth and Sports, Jakub Dürr (Greens, Deputy Minister of Education) or Miroslava Kopicova (proposed by the ODS, former member of Topolanek's first cabinet)
• Culture, Horymir Kubicek (proposed by the ODS, director of the national technical museum) or Marta Smolikova (Greens, cultural management expert).
