Former senator, Drábek aide, could be next labour and social affairs minister

The new minister for labour and social affairs, replacing the outgoing Jaromír Drábek who is stepping down over a corruption scandal related to his former deputy, is likely to be former senator and aide Ludmila Müllerová, several sites have reported. She told the Czech news agency she had been offered the post by the outgoing minister but the final decision would be up to party leader Karel Schwarzenberg. Jaromír Drábek steps down on October 31. If TOP 09 nominates the 58-year-old Müllerová, and she is approved by the prime minister, she could then be named to office by the president. As it stands, ČTK pointed out, the future of the government itself is uncertain with risk it could fall over discord within the Civic Democratic Party over proposed tax hikes. The government has tied the proposed bill, which could still see changes, to a confidence vote.