Economist Jiri Rusnok is surprise choice as Czech Prime Minister

President Milos Zeman has appointed the economist Jiri Rusnok as Prime Minister, setting up a clash with the outgoing centre-right coalition parties which had pushed for their own candidate.

Mr Rusnok, a leftist Finance and Industry Minister in 2001-03, will replace Petr Necas, who resigned last week in a bribery and spying scandal involving a close aide.

The appointment of Mr Rusnok, 52, is likely to extend political instability, because the outgoing coalition does not support him and he may fail to win a prescribed vote of confidence in parliament.