The Lidovci will decide on a replacement for Třeštík by Friday

Prague - The Christian Democrats should announce by Friday at the latest to Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek (ODS) whom they will propose to head the Ministry of Culture instead of Helena Třeštíková. Among the serious candidates for the new Minister or Minister of Culture are Třeštíková's first deputy and former Christian Democrat MP Jaromír Talíř and recently elected chairwoman of the KDU-ČSL parliamentary club Michaela Šojdrová. Other names are also being mentioned.
     The situation following Třeštíková's resignation was discussed this evening by the KDU-ČSL presidium, but they have not chosen their favorite yet, participants of the meeting told ČTK. "We want to resolve this question definitively by Friday. The final decision will rest with the national committee," said Christian Democrat spokesman Ondřej Jakob.
     Vice-chairmen Roman Línek and Marián Hošek confirmed that both Talíř, who was already Minister of Culture in the 1990s, and Šojdrová are in the running, but in the end, the choice could fall on someone else. "Both would handle the position well. There are also other options. We are currently negotiating them," said Hošek without further details. Línek also did not want to be more specific: "There are multiple nominations, all are good."
     Another vice-chairman, Stanislav Juránek, did not participate in the presidium meeting - a snowstorm prevented him from traveling from Brno to Prague. However, he conveyed his opinion to the narrow leadership: "Naturally, Mr. Talíř would be the choice," said the South Moravian governor to ČTK.
     Šojdrová stated before the presidium meeting that if the party chose her, she would be ready to accept the position. "But it depends on the decision of the collective leadership of KDU-ČSL," she added.
     Třeštíková submitted her resignation today due to feeling political pressure regarding the appointment of her deputies. Earlier, she rejected the Prime Minister's proposal for František Formánek to become her closest associate. Topolánek, however, claims that he respected her right of veto and that the minister had complete freedom in personnel matters.
     During the selection of Třeštíková at the end of last year, some Christian Democrats pointed out the pitfalls of nominating this well-known documentary filmmaker, especially her lack of political experience. Cyril Svoboda (KDU-ČSL) was originally supposed to become Minister of Culture, but when the non-partisan Simeona Zikmundová, nominated by the Christian Democrats, resigned from the position of Minister without portfolio before the appointment of Topolánek's coalition government, Svoboda moved to this role, and the non-partisan Třeštíková became Minister of Culture. Thus, the Christian Democrats must once again address whom to send to the ministerial position.