Prime Minister meets with president over planned cabinet changes

The head of the Social Democratic Party, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, presented his proposal for changes in his cabinet to the president on Sunday. In a cabinet shake-up, the prime minister made clear he aimed to recall the health and human rights ministers, Svatopluk Němeček and Jiří Dienstbier, from their posts. They are to step down on November 30. The prime minister presented President Miloš Zeman with the names of nominees in their stead, the head of Motol Hospital Miloslav Ludvík and Jan Chvojka. The president showed approval, his spokesman confirmed. The move is meant to shore up the government in its final 11 months until the next national election. The prime minister had sought additional changes in government but did not find common ground within the coalition. The president, meanwhile, voiced earlier the preference that Culture Minister Daniel Herman should be one to depart from the government following the minister's meeting in October with the Dalai Lama, which Mr Zeman made clear he was against.

Author: Jan Velinger