The Czech Republic s pro-European foreign minister has been dismissed after losing a bid to lead his own party.
President Milos Zeman terminated the duties of Tomáš Petříček in accordance with the Constitution, his office said in a statement.
Petříček had clashed with his rival, Interior Minister Jan Hamacek, over control of the Czech Social Democratic Party.
The former minister had suggested breaking ties with the populist liberal ANO party, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
Hamacek had been calling for the foreign minister to resign, stating that the party should speak with one voice ahead of the parliamentary elections in October.