Andrej Babiš introduced three new members of the Government to their Ministries and gave them a number of tasks

On Tuesday, 30 April 2019, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš introduced new members of the Government to the office: Minister of Justice Marie Benešová, Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček and Minister of Transport Vladimír Kremlík. The introduction was preceded by the appointment of new members of the Government by President Miloš Zeman.

Marie Benešová will replace Jan Kněžínek at the Ministry of Justice. Karel Havlíček will take over the Ministry of Industry and Trade after Marta Nováková and Vladimír Kremlík will replace Dan Ťok at the Ministry of Transport.

President Miloš Zeman has also appointed two new Deputy Prime Ministers. These are the new Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček and Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová. They replaced Richard Brabec, the previous Deputy Prime Minister. Interior Minister Jan Hamáček continues to be the First Deputy Prime Minister.                

Ministry of Justice

Subsequently, Prime Minister Babiš officially introduced new members of the government to the Ministries. Marie Benešová took over the Ministry of Justice. The outgoing Minister Jan Kněžínek will return to the position of Deputy Minister for Legislative Council of the Government. According to the Prime Minister, the new Minister will have to deal with a number of tasks which are of interest to the public, such as an amendment to the Private Enforcement Act, an amendment enabling the recovery of maintenance or the possibility of divorce before a notary, which would ease the burden on courts. The Prime Minister has also mentioned private enforcement on children, and that it is also necessary to finish the proposal of the Protection of Whistleblowers Act and a Collective Actions Act.

“I asked the Minister to focus on the recommendations in the fight against corruption. I founded an anti-corruption movement and I definitely care about it”, said Prime Minister Babiš. “I thanked Mr Kněžínek for his work and I wish the new Minister good luck”, the Prime Minister said.

Ministry of Industry and Trade

After that, the Prime Minister moved to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, where he, accompanied by the outgoing Minister Marta Nováková, introduced to the office her successor Karel Havlíček. According to the Prime Minister, the new minister should come up with a solution on how to streamline cooperation with other economic ministries and state institutions, such as CzechTrade, CzechInvest and CzechTourism, the Czech Export Bank and the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank. “We need to speak with one voice abroad in terms of export diplomacy”, the Prime Minister said.

Other tasks of the new minister primarily include the fight against bureaucracy, digitization, implementation of the government Decalogue for Entrepreneurs, preparation of investment plan and new State budget. “The task are many and I am very much hoping that the Minister will help me to integrate and improve the cooperation of the various economic ministries. Because Minister Schillerová became Deputy Prime Minister, I think they will be a very strong duo, who can fundamentally help in terms of the projects of our government and the functioning of our state”, said Andrej Babiš.

Ministry of Transport

Finally, at the Ministry of Transport, Andrej Babiš introduced Vladimír Kremlík, who took the Ministry over from Dan Ťok.  Prime Minister Babiš thanked him for his excellent work and emphasized the fact that Dan Ťok became the longest serving Minister of Transport in the history of the Czech Republic.

His successor also has a number of important tasks to deal with, such as in legislation. “The Chamber of Deputies is discussing the Road Transport Act, the Roads Act, the Railways Act and the Inland Navigation Act and we have other laws in the consultation process”, said Prime Minister Babiš.

According to the Prime Minister, Vladimír Kremlík will have to focus on the ongoing construction of transport infrastructure – new motorways and class I roads, to complete the D1 modernization. “The completion of the ring road around Prague is very important, and in 2024 the interconnection of the motorways from Pilsen to Hradec Králové could be completed”, said Andrej Babiš.

The new Minister also faces similar challenges in rail transport – the government’s priority is to make substantial progress in the preparation of high-speed lines or to implement a long-delayed rail link between Prague’s city centre and Václav Havel Airport. In addition, it will have to deal with the transformation issues of the Road and Motorway Directorate and the Railway Infrastructure Administration, the launch of a new toll system and the related introduction of electronic vignettes, the introduction of a single ticket for all railway operators, and the future of the automotive industry.

“The tasks that the new Minister will have to deal with are many, I keep my fingers crossed, he will certainly have my permanent support. It is a tough, closely watched ministry, but I am convinced that the Minister has the managerial skills to cope with it”, added Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.