(ANSA-AFP) - PRAGUE, APR 12 - Czech Foreign Minister Tomas
Petricek was sacked Monday, the president's office said, after
he fell out of favour with his Social Democratic Party and the
country's pro-Russian president. President Milos Zeman "has
dismissed Tomas Petricek in line with the constitution," Zeman's
office said in a statement. Petricek has criticised potential
Russian participation in the construction of a new unit at a
Czech nuclear plant, as well as the use of the Russian-made
Sputnik V vaccine unless it is approved by the European
Medicines Agency. This has angered Zeman, a former Social
Democrat chief who fosters close ties with the Kremlin. "The
security and health of our citizens comes first," Petricek told
reporters on Monday to explain his reservations. He said his
dismissal was "a political decision." At a congress last
weekend, Petricek spoke up against Social Democrat chairman and
Interior Minister Jan Hamacek as the two clashed for the top job
in the party. (ANSA-AFP).
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