“I am glad that after our conversation the minister remains a member of the government team. The minister came to me for a meeting with the fact that he personally delivered my resignation. However, I asked him to consider this step for many reasons, which I consider important,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) announced.
According to him, Lipavský is a quality foreign minister. He considers continuity to be important, especially at a time when the war in Ukraine is going on not far from the Czech border and tensions are increasing in the Middle East.
Fiala highlighted a similar view of foreign policy. “So we often don’t have to consult on things,” he added. “That’s what I told him, and based on that, the minister decided not to insist on the resignation and to continue in my government,” announced Fiala.
The leaders of the other parties supported him
The leaders of the coalition parties, i.e. KDU-ČSL, STAN and TOP 09, also spoke out in favor of Lipavský remaining in the cabinet.
Lipavský then said that he remains a minister as a non-party member. “I did not agree with the turn the party took in the past few days, that is why I terminated my membership today and I can be impartial. My conscience is clear and I have done everything I should have done for the Pirates,” repeated Lipavský on why he left the Pirates on Tuesday.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue in the government as a non-partisan. The Czech government’s foreign policy is not only due to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but also to Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who has shown what role the Czech Republic can play in Europe,” he added.
According to him too, continuity is important. He therefore intends to continue to defend the interests of the Czech Republic in the world in the same spirit until the end of the election period. “I am glad that the Czech voice will continue to sound the same abroad,” concluded the current head of Czech diplomacy.
Photo: Vít Šimánek, CTK
Jan Lipavský and Petr Fiala at a press conference
Lipavský leaves the Pirates
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Pirates respect Lipavský’s decision to leave the party and stay in the government, although some do not hide their disappointment. “Mr. Lipavský is a good minister, we fought hard to get him into office despite everything. However, I have mixed feelings about the latest developments,” Jakub Michálek, for example, the chairman of the pirate parliamentary club, told Novinkám.
Senator Adéla Šípová (Pirates) believes that she will continue to fulfill her role conscientiously. “I believe that he will not let up in his activities and maybe he will finally succeed in convincing other colleagues in the government that the ratification of the Istanbul Convention is in the interest of our country and will finally include us among the countries that commit to working together to solve the issue of domestic violence,” said Šípová.
On Tuesday, the pirate Minister for Legislation, Michal Šalomoun, is also to hand in his resignation to the Prime Minister.
Fiala wants to have a full government by the end of next week, by which time someone should take over the vacated Ministry for Regional Development and replace Jozef Síkela (STAN), who is headed for the post of European Commissioner in Brussels, at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The name of the candidate for local development is to be delivered to the government movement STAN by the end of the week.
Fiala: I want to have the changes in the government ready by the end of next week
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