New Cabinet Marks Shift of Power

President Vaclav Havel has appointed a new Cabinet, signaling the end of an era dominated by a premier who oversaw the country’s split from Czechoslovakia. Havel, hoping to end the government crisis, flew in from his vacation in Lanzarote, Spain, to officially appoint the new Cabinet of Premier Josef Tosovsky. Premier Vaclav Klaus, who led the country from 1992 until late last year, designed its economic reforms and oversaw the peaceful split of the former Czechoslovak federation on Jan. 1, 1993. He was forced by his coalition partners to step down on Nov. 30, following accusations of a campaign financing scandal.