PRAGUE, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Czech President Milos Zeman has dismissed Cultural Minister Antonin Stanek from his post, and the dismissal will be effective as of July 31, the president's spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said Monday.
The dismissal came two months after Prime Minister Babis officially requested it and the delay has caused a drawn-out crisis in the governing coalition, with the Social Democrats( CSSD) threatening to walk out of the coalition government over the president's reluctance to act.
The president thanked Stanek for his good work and especially for the care of the preservation of cultural monuments, and for uncovering the misuse of public funds in the Ministry of Culture.
The president also expects the two criminal complaints, which Stanek filed, to be carefully investigated, said Ovcacek.
In April, Stanek dismissed the Prague National Gallery (NGP) director Jiri Fajt and the Art Museum of Olomouc director Michal Soukup and filed criminal complaints against them. But both denied any mistakes in the management.
The culture community then filed a petition signed by almost 7,000 persons and delivered it to Prime Minister Babis, asking for dismissing Stanek.
In reaction, the coalition government sent a proposal to the Presidential Office, suggesting the dismissal of Stanek in May.
The Social Democrats party has already named Michal Smarda as its nominee for the post, but President Zeman has not so far agreed to make the appointment.
