Klaus appoints Jehlička as Minister of Culture this afternoon

Prague - President Václav Klaus is expected to appoint senator Václav Jehlička (KDU-ČSL) as the new Minister of Culture today at 16:00, according to ČTK information. Jehlička will replace Helena Třeštíková in the coalition government of Mirek Topolánek (ODS), who resigned this week.
    Topolánek met this morning at the government office with Jehlička and the chairman of KDU-ČSL Jiří Čunek. "The timing of the appointment depends on the president. I would prefer a very quick change because I am simultaneously asking him to accept the resignation of the Minister and also asking him for the appointment," Topolánek told ČTK afterwards.
    The spokesperson for the Castle, Petr Hájek, later confirmed to ČTK that the appointment ceremony will take place in Prague Castle this afternoon.
    Topolánek described Jehlička's selection as fortunate. "I believe that Václav Jehlička is exactly the person, as the former mayor of Telč, who has worked with monuments for a long time, who has been dealing with cultural issues and its financing in the Senate for a long time," he stated.
    At today's meeting, Topolánek, Čunek, and Jehlička discussed the Ministry of Culture and its problems, but reportedly did not address personnel issues. Jehlička already stated on Thursday that he wants to have the right to veto the appointment of his colleagues. Třeštíková justified her resignation precisely by saying that she was under pressure to appoint people to the office whom she did not want - specifically the former deputy minister of culture František Formánek.
    Topolánek reiterated today that he regrets Třeštíková's departure and considers the reasons for her leaving to be irrational. He confirmed that he did not discuss any personnel issues regarding the leaders of the ministry during the morning meeting with Jehlička and Čunek. "I did not have to discuss any personnel issues with Mr. Jehlička because I did not discuss them with Ms. Třeštíková either," he stated. As the chairman of ODS, he will, of course, nominate the deputy. "I believe that Václav Jehlička will choose himself," added the prime minister.