Despite recent controversies surrounding a party held at his department and criticism over communication during a shooting incident at Charles University’s Faculty of Philosophy, Marian Jurečka, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from KDU-ČSL, has managed to secure his position. The National Committee of the Christian Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People’s Party (KDU-ČSL) expressed support for him in a meeting held on Tuesday evening, opting not to make any personnel changes in the government or party leadership.

The committee’s decision was reached through a secret ballot, with 25 out of 30 members supporting Jurečka. The resolution, as part of the decision, acknowledged the work done by Jurečka and refrained from implementing any alterations in leadership roles.

In a subsequent press conference, Jurečka revealed that he had offered his resignation as both the leader of KDU-ČSL and the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs during the committee meeting. He clarified information regarding the controversial party event and acknowledged poor communication, publicly apologizing once again for the incident.

The National Party committee’s resolution comprised four key points, addressing Jurečka’s mistake in not ending the party on time, which subsequently affected communication with the media and the public. The broader leadership of the Christian Democrats expressed understanding for the adverse reactions from those impacted by the events at the Faculty of Philosophy and extended apologies.

Jurečka mentioned that he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), but it was not accepted. He asserted that he adequately explained the case to the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and apologized for any shortcomings in handling the situation. The decision by the National Committee reflects an internal consensus within KDU-ČSL to retain Jurečka in his ministerial role despite the recent controversies, emphasizing the committee’s confidence in his ability to navigate and address the challenges ahead.

Article by Prague Forum