PRAGUE, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky will remain in the government as an unaffiliated member after his party, the Czech Pirate Party, decided to exit the coalition, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Tuesday.
Members of the Pirate Party on Monday voted to approve the party's departure from the five-party government coalition, following the dismissal of their leader, Ivan Bartos, from his positions as deputy prime minister for digitization and regional development minister.
Fiala, also head of the Civic Democratic Party, told journalists that he considered continuity in the leadership of Czech diplomacy to be important regarding Lipavsky's stay. He said the heads of the other three coalition parties also supported Lipavsky remaining a minister as an unaffiliated expert.
Lipavsky has requested to end his membership in the Pirate Party. He met Fiala on Tuesday to submit his resignation.
"I'm glad Jan Lipavsky decided to continue on my government team after our conversation," Fiala said on social media X.
Fiala announced last week that he would recommend President Petr Pavel dismiss Bartos from his government position, citing his failure to effectively implement the digitalization of construction procedures. On Monday, Fiala confirmed that Pavel had accepted the proposal and assigned the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Marian Jurecka, to temporarily take on the role of minister for regional development. ■
