Jakub Kulhánek

His Excellency Jakub Kulhánek
Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 February 2022 (2022-02-15)
President	Miloš Zeman Petr Pavel
Preceded by	Marie Chatardová
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 21 April 2021 (2021-04-21) – 17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)
Prime Minister	Andrej Babiš
Preceded by	Jan Hamáček
Succeeded by	Jan Lipavský
Personal details
Born	(1984-06-30) 30 June 1984 (age 40) Mělník, Czechoslovakia
Nationality	Czech
Political party	Social Democracy (until 2023)
Alma mater	Charles University

Jakub Kulhánek (born 30 June 1984)^[1] is a Czech diplomat and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic from April to December 2021. Since 2023, he has been the Czech ambassador to the United Nations.

Early life

Kulhánek graduated from Charles University in area studies and received a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Georgetown University.^[2] He was employed as a consultant by CEFC China Energy and worked as an analyst with the Association for International Issues.^[3]

Political career

From 2013 until 2017, Kulhánek worked as a parliamentary advisor to then-chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Jan Hamáček. In 2014, he served as deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic to Martin Stropnický.^[4] Kulhánek also worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka during the latter's tenure as prime minister.^[5]

2019–2020: European Parliament and Czech regional elections

Kulhánek stood for the European Parliament in the 2019 European Parliament election as a candidate of Social Democracy. He received 595 preferential votes and did not become an MEP.^[6]

During the 2020 Czech regional elections, Kulhánek was elected as a member of the ČSSD in the Central Bohemian Region, where he received 136 preferential votes.^[7]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

In April 2021, after Lubomír Zaorálek rejected his candidacy as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, ČSSD requested Kulhánek to hold the position in the Second Cabinet of Andrej Babiš.^[8] On 15 April, following a meeting with President Miloš Zeman at Lány Castle, Zeman appointed Kulhánek as foreign minister on 21 April.^[9]

On 14 May 2021, in response to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Kulhánek decided to display the Israeli flag at Czernin Palace as a sign of solidarity with Israel, declaring that "Israel is facing an absolutely outrageous and barbaric attack".^[10]

Czech ambassador to the United Nations

On 15 February 2022, Kulhánek was appointed Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations,^[11] an occupation he hinted during his tenure as foreign minister in the second cabinet of Andrej Babiš.^[12]

In 2023, Kulhánek resigned from ČSSD after disagreement with the party leadership course represented by Michal Šmarda.^[13]

Personal life

Kulhánek has a daughter with his partner.^[14]

References

1. "Vláda hledá nového „superúředníka". TI volá po nestranném a silném kandidátovi". Transparency International (in Czech). 21 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
2. Vitner, Marika. "Náměstkem ministra vnitra se stal Jakub Kulhánek, ředitelem kabinetu Karel Kortánek". Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic (in Czech). Retrieved 14 April 2021.
3. "Pracoval pro Číňany, radil ČSSD. Kdo je kandidát na šéfa diplomacie Kulhánek". iDNES (in Czech). Prague: Mafra. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
4. "Práce pro ministry i CEFC. Kdo je Jakub Kulhánek". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
5. "Poradní sbor předsedy vlády ČR Bohuslava Sobotky". Government of the Czech Republic (in Czech). 24 July 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
6. "Volby do Evropského parlamentu konané na území České republiky ve dnech 24.05. – 25.05.2019". volby.cz (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
7. "Volby do zastupitelstev krajů konané dne 2.10. – 3.10.2020". volby.cz (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
8. "Novým ministrem zahraničí má být dosavadní Hamáčkův náměstek Jakub Kulhánek". Deník N – Czech Republic (in Czech). 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
9. "Zeman přijal Kulhánka, jmenuje ho příští středu". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
10. "Na podporu Izraele vyvěsil vlajku Hrad, vláda i ministerstvo zahraničí". iDNES (in Czech). Prague: Mafra. 14 May 2021.
11. "New Permanent Representative of Czech Republic Presents Credentials". United Nations. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
12. Křížová, Iveta (15 February 2022). "Kulhánek se stane velvyslancem při OSN. Pirátům vadí, že se na post navrhl sám, podle experta procesně nepochybil". Lidové noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 21 February 2022.
13. "‚Neztotožnil jsem se s kurzem vedení.' Diplomat Kulhánek odešel ze Sociální demokracie". Czech Radio (in Czech). 14 November 2023.
14. Veinlich, Jakub (23 April 2021). "Kulhánek pro Blesk: Vyhoštění Češi bydlí na Štiříně a mají plný plat. Ministr žije na psí knížku". Blesk (in Czech).