Vít Rakušan
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
and Minister of the Interior
Vít Rakušan began his political career in 2010, when he was elected a councillor and then Mayor of Kolín. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in the significant transformation of the city, aimed at improving the transparency of public administration and reducing debt. Despite initial financial difficulties, he was able to implement key investments, making the city more welcoming to its residents. Since 2016, he has served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bohemian Region, focusing on security and tourism. Thanks to his innovative approaches, he was included in the Financial Times' 100 Greatest Innovators of Central and Eastern Europe. In 2020, he became the chair of the Mayors and Independents (STAN) movement and the following year he ran as a candidate in the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, where he received 60,000 preferential votes, the highest number among all candidates. Since December 2021, he has served as Interior Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Petr Fiala. In this role, he has faced many challenges, especially in the field of crisis management. Prior to entering politics, he studied History and German Studies at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice and received a Bachelor's degree in school management from Charles University. After graduation, he worked as a teacher of history, German and political science at the Jiří Orten Gymnasium in Kutná Hora.