Culture minister confirms she will step down

Culture Minister Alena Hanáková (TOP 09-STAN) confirmed on Wednesday that she will step down at the end of June. The embattled minister had faced increasing criticism both from the opposition and expert circles; speculation that she would step down had intensified for some time. The minister told journalists she no longer felt she had the support of her party; she took the decision after meeting earlier with TOP 09 head Karel Schwarzenberg. Jiří Hlaváč, a former dean at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU) is being mentioned as a possible successor.