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Czech PM dismisses industry minister

Xinhua, February 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced dismissal of Industry and Trade Minister Jan Mladek, citing the disappointing performance of the department under his management as the reason.

The current minister Jan Mladek would be replaced by the end of this month, Sobotka said.

As Sobotka said, the Czech Republic has been known as one of the European countries with the most expensive mobile data, therefore, Mladek's replacement became obvious in the light of recent debates over Czech mobile service market and amendment to the Telecommunications Law.

The prime minister said he was "really unsatisfied" with the results of Mladek in the field of investment promotion and exports development, which were "extremely important" for the country.

Mladek, however, said that in his opinion mobile communication didn't really belong to the sphere of industry and trade, according to reports. He said that his dismissal was likely to be part of the political campaign before the elections scheduled for October 2017.

Sobotka said he would submit his proposal for Mladek's dismissal to the country's President Milos Zeman and inform him of the name of the minister's successor on Thursday. Endit