Minister fires official over handing out of gold as gifts

Finance Minister Andrej Babiš has dismissed the director of the State Printer of Securities, Richard Bulíček. In a news release issued on Tuesday, the minister said he and Mr. Bulíček had diverging views on efficiency and thrift when it came to substantial gifts. The newspaper Lidové noviny last week reported that in the last five years given out as presents 10g gold ingots worth some CZK 4.7 million. Mr. Babiš had previously questioned why Mr. Bulíček had been unable to furnish him with a list of those who had received the ingots.