Both candidates for Police Chief pass the first selection phase

The selection commission has recommended that Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO) ask the Parliamentary defence and security committee to hear both candidates for the post of Police Chief, said Interior Ministry's spokesperson Barbara Turosova on Monday. Acting head of the national police force Peter Kovařík , and commander of its Lynx Commando anti-terrorist unit Stefan Hamran, are vying for the post. Mikulec will submit the candidates to the parliamentary committee within 15 days. Following their public hearing, the committee will recommend that the minister appoint one of them to the post of Police Chief. If they don't issue the recommendation, the Interior Ministry will have to repeat the selection procedure. The position of police chief was vacated after Milan Lučanský stepped down from the post last summer. The Police have been temporarily led by Peter Kovařík since September 2020.