Prague, Jan 15 (CTK) – Mirek Topolanek, former Czech PM who failed in the first round of the direct presidential election this weekend, has resumed work in the firms belonging to the Energy and Industrial Holding (EPH) of businessman Daniel Kretinsky, EPH spokesman Daniel Castvaj told CTK on Monday.
Topolanek is a member of the board of directors of Eustream, the monopoly Slovak gas transporter, and head of the Elektrarny Opatovice coal-fired power plant’s supervisory board.
He suspended work in all these positions when announcing his candidacy for president several months ago.
“I can confirm that Mirek Topolanek has resumed his work in the companies that are part of the EPH holding as of today,” Castvaj said.
In the January 12-13 first round of the election, Topolanek won 4.3 percent of the vote. Ending sixth out of the nine candidates, he did not advance to the runoff due on January 26-27.
He supported Jiri Drahos, former Science Academy chairman who ended second with 26.6 percent and will face incumbent President Milos Zeman (38.6 percent), in the runoff.
Topolanek’s campaign was financially supported by many of his political as well as business acquaintances including Kretinsky, who sent 350,000 crowns to him.
Before the election, Topolanek said Kretinsky paid the money to him from his own pocket.
Earlier, Castvaj dismissed EPH being an important source of financing Topolanek’s campaign.
