Fiala to take more time before proposing Hladík for minister

Prime Minister Petr Fiala says he will take more time before asking President Miloš Zeman to name Petr Hladík as minister of the environment. He made the comment after talks with the head of state at the president’s residence near Prague on Thursday evening.

The head of Mr. Hladík’s party the Christian Democrats, Marian Jurečka, says he expects him to be given the job soon.

Mr. Hladík has been implicated in a corruption scandal in Brno, where he is deputy mayor. Mr. Fiala says this must be cleared up before more steps can be taken.

Mr. Jurečka has been acting environment minister since the previous occupant of the post stepped down for health reasons.