Mynář appointed Chancellor of the Office of the President

Prague, March 14 (CTK) - Czech President Milos Zeman appointed yesterday Vratislav Mynar, Party of Citizens' Rights (SPOZ) leader, his chancellor, Jaroslav Hlinovsky director of his secretariat and Hana Burianova head of the Presidential Office's press department, the office has announced on its website.

Burianova was SPOZ and Zeman's presidential election campaign spokeswoman.

Mynar, 45, is a businessman. He graduated from Brno University of Technology, majoring in construction economics. He is a member of bodies authorised to represent a number of firms and member of the Zlin Region assembly, assemblyman of Osvetimany, south Moravia.

As SPOZ leader, Mynar considered using the post of chancellor in promoting the SPOZ ahead of the mid-29014 general election.

Zeman reacted saying the post of head of the Presidential Office cannot be used to promote any political party.

According to media, Mynar met in business Miroslav Slouf, Zeman's former adviser and lobbyist. "We met on business ground. And we have long been going for water holidays," Slouf said.

Hlinovsky is also close to Slouf. He was his employee and according to daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) he was active in the Region Invest firm that was controlled by peole who were later sentenced in the H-System cheap housing fraud worth billions of crowns.

Hlinovsky is a witness in the case. MfD wrote that he stood at the start of the firm "together with Slouf's live partner Dagmar Markova."

Burianova studies political sciences. She works or worked as a legal assistant. She heads a SPOZ organisation in a Prague district.

She has worked for Zeman and the SPOZ for several years. She displays her opinions on an Internet blog.

Zeman, who was inaugurated on March 8, announced mebmers of his presidential team on Sunday.

He said Hynek Kmonicek, now ambassador to Australia, will become head of the foreign policy department.

Jiridrich Forent, Prague Castle protocol head under former president Vaclav Klaus, will also work for Zeman and the same is true of the Prague Castle Administration director, Ivo Velisek.

Klaus's chancellor Jiri Weigl will stay with Zeman for some time to "teach" th job to Mynar.

($1=109.745 crowns)