Ministr průmyslu a obchodu Jan Mládek se 24. června vyjádřil k výsledkům referenda ve Velké Británii o vystoupení z EU.—Czech Minister of Agriculture Jan Mladek reacts to results of referendum on Brexit in Prague, Czech Republic, June 24, 2016. (CTK Photo/Michal Krumphanzl)

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has fired his minister of industry and trade over his resistance to work to lower telephone and mobile data tariffs.

At a news conference on Monday, Sobotka said Jan Mladek’s ministry has failed to support his government’s efforts to reduce the high bills Czechs have to pay to telephone operators.

Under Mladek’s leadership, Czech officials opposed the recent decision by the European Union to cut costly mobile-phone roaming costs in the bloc. His explanation that roaming is a luxury made news. Similar attention was paid to a statement by his deputy that if the Czechs want low tariffs like in Poland, they should move there.

Sobotka said such statements offended the public.

Source: CNBC