Mirek Topolánek, who stepped down as Czech prime minister in May 2009, may have finally landed a prominent job: The former leader of the center-right Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is a serious candidate to become board chairman of the Association for District Heating of the Czech Republic (ADH ČR). Board members will vote to name a new chairman on Sept. 5, a source in the sector told Czech Position; Topolánek did not respond to requests for comment.
Since leaving office, Topolánek has positioned himself as an energy sector expert and advisor. In May, as general director of the private firm VAE Controls, which he founded many years ago, Topolánek took part in a business delegation to Iraq led by his political successor, Petr Nečas, looking to drum up business for the firm’s water management activities.
Forced out of the political limelight last spring, Topolánek found a place waiting for him at VAE Controls. At first, he acted as a consultant to the firm, which designs and implement comprehensive supplies of technology and control systems for the petrochemical, water management and industrial sectors; today, he is its CEO. The ADH ČR post is sexier than it sounds. As of July 25, the influential group had 87 members, including all of the biggest names in the Czech energy sector.
But taking the leadership of the ADH ČR is sexier than it sounds and could mark his return into the public eye. As of July 25, the influential group had 87 members, including all of the biggest names in the Czech energy sector.
The interest group of legal entities and entrepreneurs was established in 1991 with the aim of “promoting the development of district heating (DH) systems and combined heat and power generation (CHP) as “a highly effective and environmentally friendly method of primary fuels energy utilization and to establish suitable conditions for this business.”
Holding the post of ADH ČR from its very inception until the first half of this year was Alexej Nováček, the head of Teplárny Brno. He was replaced as head of the city’s heating plant by Petr Fajmon in May, which also brought an end to Nováček’s reign as head of the association. The ADH ČR is now under the leadership of two deputy chairmen: Tomáš Drápela, head of Plzeňská teplárenská; and Jaroslav Kužel head of heating plant development at the state-controlled power utility ČEZ.
“I cannot comment on events within the association,” Nováček said when asked to officially confirm Topolánek’s candidature. Drápela said that he had heard that the ex-prime minister’s name may be put forward “but I don’t know who will propose Topolánek,” he said, adding that each of the seven heating plant companies will propose candidate for the post of ADH ČR board chairman.
The companies within the ADH ČR that have the greatest say in the matter are:
- ČEZ
- Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH)
- Dalkia
- Teplárny Brno
- Plzeňská teplárenská
- MVV Energie
EPH head Daniel Křetínský confirmed that Topolánek’s name is being mentioned in energy circles; according to Czech Position’s information, there is no one else under consideration approaching the ex-prime minister’s stature, and each of the seven big heating plants must decided this week if they will vote for Topolánek.
“I have known Mirek Topolánek for 15 years. He is a strong persona and if someone proposed him as chairman of the association, I would have no problem with him,” ADH ČR deputy chairman Drápela said.
Although he still enjoys significant support within the ODS, Topolánek is a bit of a loose cannon prone to gaffs; what eventually cost him the party leadership was an interview he gave during the spring 2010 election campaign with a gay magazine whose staff filmed him describing former caretaker prime minister Jan Fischer as a “Jew who gets out of the way” and the Catholic Church as an organization that “brainwashed people.” He also said that gays and Jews were lacking in integrity of moral character.
