PM asks president to name Petr Hladík environment minister

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has asked President Miloš Zeman to name Petr Hladík minister of the environment. 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.