Vladimír Špidla

Vladimír Špidla

Prime Minister

Born on April 22, 1951 in Prague, Mr Špidla completed his secondary education in 1970 to enrol in the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague where he read history and prehistory. In 1976, he successfully defended his diploma thesis on the subject of the foundation of the Živnobanka financial institution. He then took up a number of jobs: a worker in the field of preservation of historical monuments and nature conservation; an archaeologist, a saw mill worker, an employee in a dairy and a building materials warehouse. In 1990, Mr Špidla became Vice-Chairman of the Jindřichův Hradec District National Committee responsible for education, health care, social affairs and culture. In 1991 - 1996, he served as director of the local job centre. In 1992, he became a member of the Presidium of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), in March 1997 its statutory Vice-Chairman, and in April 2001 Chairman of the CSSD. In the Chamber of Deputies, to which he was elected in 1996, he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Social Policy and Health Care Committee. From July 22, 1998 to July 12 2002, he held the post of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs authorised by the Government to co-ordinate the departments of labour and social affairs, health care, education, youth and physical training, the environment, and culture. He was appointed as Prime Minister on July 12, 2002. Before 1989, he had never been affiliated to any political party. His hobbies include care of historical monuments, cross-country running and various outdoor sports. Mr Špidla is married for the second time; he has two children from his first marriage and another two acquired by marriage.