President Zeman to meet with nominee for environment minister

President Zeman wants to meet with the Christian Democratic Party’s nominee for Environment Minister Petr Hladík before appointing him to the post, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after the traditional New Year’s lunch with the head of state on Monday. He did not specify when the meeting would take place. Mr. Hladik said he was looking forward to the meeting with the head of state and expected to discuss his priorities in office.

Mr. Hladík’s appointment was postponed over his involvement in a corruption scandal in Brno, where he is deputy mayor, but the Christian Democrats of the ruling coalition have increasingly been pushing for the appointment to take place, arguing that he was not among the accused and had explained his role in the affair adequately. Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Marin Jurečka has held the portfolio since the previous environment minster stepped down for health reasons.