The leadership of the Mayors and Independents (STAN) will decide this afternoon on their nomination for the new Minister for Regional Development. The position became vacant following the dismissal of Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) on September 30, at the request of Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS). Bartoš was removed due to issues related to the digitization of the construction process.
Last week, the STAN leadership held a similar meeting to nominate their first vice-president, Lukáš Vlček, for the role of Minister of Industry and Trade. Vlček’s nomination comes as Jozef Síkel is expected to step down and assume the role of European Commissioner.
The Pirates criticized Bartoš’s dismissal, accusing Fiala of violating the coalition agreement, which led to the party’s vote to exit the government. The coordination of the digitization process has since been transferred to Minister of Transport Martin Kupka (ODS), while the Ministry of Regional Development is temporarily under the leadership of Labour Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL).
Potential candidates for the role include current deputy Radim Sršeň, Karlovy Vary Governor Petr Kulhánek, Olomouc Governor Josef Suchánek, and MP Eliška Olšáková, who also chairs the Association of Local Authorities. The final nomination will be discussed by the STAN Bureau and the national committee in the Chamber of Deputies later today.
