President Zeman will not be appointing the Social Democrats candidate Michal Smarda to the post of Culture Minister, according to a statement published on Facebook by Presidential spokesman Jiri Ovacek. The President cited Mr. Smarda’s lack of experience with Czech culture and has asked CSSD chairman Jan Hamacek to nominate a new candidate. Statement below.
Statement by the President of the Republic
President of the Republic Milos Zeman stated that Mr. Michal Šmarda never dealt with the issue of Czech culture.
For this reason, he is not professionally competent to perform the function of Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Therefore, the President of the Republic asked the CSSD chairman Jan Hamacek, through the Prime Minister, to propose another candidate meeting at least elementary professional prerequisites.
Jiří Ovčáček
Director of the Press and Spokesperson of the President of the Republic