1. Miroslav Kalousek served twice as Finance Minister in the cabinets of Mirek Topolanek and then again from 2010 to 2013 in the government of Petr Necas.
18 Facts About Miroslav Kalousek
1. 2.
Miroslav Kalousek studied chemistry at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague.
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Between 1984 and 1990, Kalousek worked as a technician at the company Mitas Praha.
4.
In 1998, Miroslav Kalousek was elected as an MP for the Christian Democrats.
5.
Miroslav Kalousek was leader of the party from 2003 until 2006.
6.
On 24 August 2006 Miroslav Kalousek unexpectedly accepted an offer from Jiri Paroubek to start negotiations on a minority government of KDU-CSL and the Social Democratic Party which would be supported by the Communists.
7.
Miroslav Kalousek has claimed his negotiation with Paroubek was intended to prevent a governing coalition of CSSD and the Civic Democratic Party, which seemed like the most likely alternative scenario.
8.
In 2007, Miroslav Kalousek was appointed as Finance Minister in Mirek Topolanek's cabinet, a position he held until the cabinet lost a vote of no-confidence in 2009.
9.
TOP 09 entered the parliament in the 2010 legislative election and joined a coalition government with ODS and Public Affairs, with Miroslav Kalousek becoming Minister of Finance for the second time.
10.
Miroslav Kalousek was re-elected as an MP in the 2013 legislative election, but lost the post of Finance Minister.
11.
Miroslav Kalousek announced in July 2020 that he would not be standing for election again, and resigned as an MP on 19 January 2021, arguing that the Chamber of Deputies would become a campaigning platform for the upcoming elections and seats should therefore be occupied by MPs due to stand in those elections.
12.
On 1 October 2024, Miroslav Kalousek left the party, citing differences of opinion.
13.
Miroslav Kalousek is said to launch a new political party before the parliamentary election in 2025.
14.
Miroslav Kalousek even called on members of parliament to vote for the bill in 2023, despite being conservative and seeing the word "marriage" as a symbol.
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Miroslav Kalousek is known for his pro-Tibet views, as well as his distaste for China's and Russia's foreign policies.
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Miroslav Kalousek was named the best Minister of Finance of the 31 European developing economies in 2008, and again in 2011.
17.
Miroslav Kalousek frequently clashed with Andrej Babis following the latter's entry into Czech politics with his ANO 2011 party.
18.
Babis led a negative campaign against Miroslav Kalousek, describing him as a "symbol of corruption", and "a drunk and a thief" during parliamentary debates in 2015 and 2018.