Ministry of Culture: Talíř will remain the first deputy

Prague - The Ministry of Culture plans changes in the positions of some deputy ministers. Even after organizational changes, the position of first deputy will still be held by Jaromír Talíř. "In connection with the planned organizational changes, there is consideration for an economic deputy and a deputy for the area of cultural heritage," Milan Kupka, the chief director of the minister’s section, told ČTK today.
    On February 27, Kateřina Kalistová left her position as deputy minister for matters of churches and religious societies for maternity leave, and at the same time, the section she led was abolished. The only department that constituted this section, the department of churches, has come under the direct authority of the first deputy, clarified Kupka.
    One of the new deputies should be the former first deputy minister of transport, Antonín Tesařík (KDU-ČSL). He left the office last September, having served there for four years. Before that, he worked at the Moravian Oil Fields company. Another new deputy is expected to be the former mayor of Český Krumlov, František Mikeš (ODS). At the end of January, there was speculation about Mikeš as a potential first deputy of the minister of finance; these positions for ministers appointed from the People's Party were supposed to be nominated by the ODS based on political agreements.
    Mikeš is awaiting a court trial in March. The dispute revolves around the drawing of state subsidies for the repair of a sports hall in Český Krumlov that was damaged by floods, amounting to over 21 million crowns in total.
    Last August, the regional court in České Budějovice acquitted two former mayors of guilt. Previously, the court had already dealt with the case in a non-public session and halted the prosecution. However, the state prosecutor appealed, and the high court ruled for a new trial. The state prosecutor also appealed after the August verdict, and the high court returned the case to the regional court again.