President appoints Aleš Michl central bank chief

President Miloš Zeman has appointed economist Aleš Michl governor of the Czech National Bank. Mr. Michl, who is 44, has been a member of the bank’s board since 2018. He will replace Jiří Rusnok, whose second spell as central bank chief is coming to a close.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he hoped Mr. Michl would not drop the bank’s current target of price stability and that it would take steps to combat inflation.

Some opposition politicians pointed to ties between the new National Bank chief and opposition leader Andrej Babiš, to whom Mr. Michl was previously an advisor.