Mirek Topolanek Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Date of Birth: 15.05.1956 Country: Czech

Biography of Mirek Topolanek

Mirek Topolanek was born on May 15, 1956, in Vsetin, Moravia, Czechoslovakia. He completed his studies at the Brno University of Technology, where he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. After graduating, Topolanek worked as an engineer and designer for the Ostrovske-Karvinske Mines, a state-run enterprise, from 1980 to 1987. He then became a lead designer for Energoprojekt in Ostrava from 1987 to 1991.

In 1990, during the "Velvet Revolution," Topolanek became involved in politics. From 1990 to 1994, he served as a member of the municipal council of Poruba, an Ostrava district. In 1991, Topolanek took on executive and later general director positions at VAE Ltd (later VAE Inc) from 1991 to 1996. He also studied management of commercial enterprises in Cyprus.

In 1996, Topolanek entered the Senate, the upper house of the Czech parliament, and served as a senator until 2004. He held various positions within the Senate, including deputy chairman of the Committee on National Economy, Agriculture, and Transport. He became the chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in December 2002, succeeding Vaclav Klaus, who had resigned as party leader but remained an honorary chairman. Topolanek led the ODS to its first-ever victory in the European Parliament elections in June 2004, securing 30% of the votes and 9 seats.

In 2006, Topolanek was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Czech parliament. Shortly after, he assumed the position of Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Under his leadership, the ODS won the parliamentary elections in June 2006, receiving 35.38% of the votes and 81 seats. However, they formed a minority government as the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) formed a left-wing coalition with the Communists. The two coalitions had an equal number of parliamentary votes.

President Vaclav Klaus appointed Topolanek as Prime Minister twice, first in September 2006 and then again in November 2006, following the failure of his cabinet to gain a vote of confidence. In January 2007, Topolanek's government managed to secure the support of the parliament and received a vote of confidence. Throughout his career, Topolanek has demonstrated proficiency in English and can read and translate German, Russian, and Polish.

In his personal life, Topolanek was married and has a son, two daughters, and a granddaughter. In January 2007, he publicly announced his separation from his wife and disclosed that he was in a relationship with Lucie Talmanova, the Deputy Speaker of the Czech Parliament. He requested that journalists refrain from asking him about his personal life.