Svoboda not taking over Regional Development Ministry to close it down

Cyril Svoboda, who is due to take the helm at the Ministry of Regional Development, says he is not taking over in order to bring its activities to an end. The newspaper Hospodářské noviny reported on Wednesday that officials at the ministry were preparing to wind the institution down. The outgoing minister, Jiří Čunek, said last year that it could be incorporated into the Ministry of Agriculture. However, Mr Svoboda said he envisaged some personnel changes, but was not saying the Ministry of Regional Development should cease to exist. The change at the helm of the ministry comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle announced by the Czech prime minister on Monday.