Hodač hot candidate for state secretary for European affairs

The head of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, Ivan Hodač, is a hot candidate for the newly-established post of state secretary for EU affairs, the daily Lidové Noviny wrote in its Friday edition. Although the prime minister has not officially confirmed the choice, the paper says the Civic Democrat’s coalition partners, TOP O9 and Public Affairs, were consulted about his candidacy. The state secretary for EU affairs is to be answerable directly to the prime minister and the post will be filled by a Civic Democrat appointee.

Mr Hodač, who is 64, emigrated to Denmark after the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. He graduated from Copenhagen University, majoring in economics and political sciences. He speaks seven foreign languages.