Jiří Čunek

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Jiří Čunek

Jiří Čunek (February 22, 1959 in Zlín) is a Czech politician, since December 2006 leader of the Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party party (KDU-ČSL).

After study at a technical college Čunek worked as a car technician in construction company in Zlín, during 1982-1998 as a safety technician in Zbrojovka Vsetín. In 1990 Čunek became member of KDU-ČSL He was elected into city council of Vsetín in 1994 and he became mayor of the city in 1998. Since 2000 Čunek is member of the council of Zlín Region. According to media reports he was very successful and popular as the mayor. In 2006 Čunek was elected into Senate of the Czech Republic by a large margin of 71.3% [1].

Čunek became all famous over the country when media published report how he dealt with Roma slum in Vsetín. The Roma lived in the center of the city in a devastated house (devastated by it´s users). [2]. Čunek forced them to move into outskirts of Vsetín. Three families were moved into villages in distant Jeseník District, where they bought houses, rest of families was moved in new build social flats near Vsetin. The media and several activists attempted to portrait Čunek as a racict and supporter of ghettoization of Roma, and several leaders of the KDU-ČSL suggested Čunek to step down his positions.

Čunek skilfully used the newly acquired media publicity and announced his bid for the leader of KDU-ČSL party (the previous leader, Miroslav Kalousek, stepped down few months ago because of outrage of party members over his deal when negotiating new Czech government). Based predominantly on his tough approach to Roma Čunek obtained the position of KDU-ČSL leader on December 9, 2006 with wide margin of 182 votes out of 312.

He is currently prosecuted for corruption [3]. Police suspect Čunek of having taken a bribe of half a million CZK from the H&B Real company for the sale of the majority share of the Vsetinské byty housing company in February 2002 when he was mayor of Vsetín[4].

Preceded by Miroslav Kalousek	13th Chairman of Czechoslovak People's Party since 2006	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Petr Gandalovič	11th Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic since 2007	Succeeded by incumbent