Karel Havlíček

Karel Havlíček (born 16 August 1969) is a Czech politician, who has served as First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and Minister of Industry and Trade since 15 December 2025, in the third cabinet of Andrej Babiš. He also served as the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Minister of Transport between 2019 and 2021, during Babiš's first term as Prime Minister.

Early life and education In 2004, Havlíček completed his Ph.D in economics and management at the Prague University of Economics and Business.

Business career Since 2010, Havlíček has been chairman of the board of the Czech Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and Tradesmen, which he co-founded in 2000. Havlíček also has been a member of the government council for research, development and innovation since 2014, and its vice-chair from 2018 until 2022. He previously sat on the government council for public investment, the business council, and the steering committee for the implementation of export strategy.

Political career On 10 April 2019, Havlíček was appointed to the second cabinet of Andrej Babiš, replacing as Minister for Industry and Trade. On 24 January 2020 he was also appointed as the Minister of Transport, occupying both positions at the same time. In February 2022, Havlíček was elected deputy president of the Chamber of Deputies.

Andrej Babiš has described Havlíček as a future prime minister of the Czech Republic.

Personal life Havlíček is an avid fan of rock and folk music, and has occasionally written articles on the topic. Since 2010, Havlíček and his wife have been reconstructing the memorial of Karl Philipp von Schwarzenberg in Český Krumlov. Havlíček speaks Czech, English, German, and Russian, as well as some Chinese, French, and Spanish.