finished the accession process of the Czech Republic to the European Union in April 2004. When KDU-ČSL formed a coalition with the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Green Party in 2007 Svodoba became a minister without portfolio and Chairman of the Government Legislative Council. During the Government "rejuvenation" in January 2009 he became Minister for Regional Development, but a few months later the Chamber of Deputies passed a motion of no confidence; the Government fell and was replaced by a caretaker government led by Jan Fischer. Retirement from politics With KDU-ČSL splitting in 2009 and the breakaway faction forming TOP 09, Svoboda became leader of KDU-ČSL again, and led the party into the parliamentary elections in 2010. The weakened party did not gain any seats and he immediately resigned. A year later Svoboda founded the Diplomatic Academy in Prague, focused on improving both public and private administration. He also returned to teaching and is currently teaching at the Anglo-American University in Prague and at the CEVRO Institute. Svoboda is currently a Member of the Board of Advisors of the , a non-governmental organisation working behind the scenes in crisis areas around the world. Family Cyril Svoboda is married to Věnceslava Svobodová, a neurologist. They have four sons: Václav, Norbert and twins Radim and Vojtěch. Among his five other siblings, he has a twin brother Josef, also politically active within KDU-ČSL. Political roles January 1998 – July 1998: Minister of Interior May 2001 – November 2003: Chairman of KDU-ČSL 1998 – 2002: Chairman of the Petitions Committee of the Chamber of Deputies July 2002 – September 2006 : Minister of Foreign Affairs July 2002 – August 2004: Deputy Prime Minister January 2007 – January 2009: Minister without Portfolio and Chairman of the Government's Legislative Council January 2009 – May 2009 : Minister for Regional Development May 2009 – May 2010 : Chairman of KDU-ČSL Decorations 2006: Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande) 2008: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Grand Merit Cross with Star and Sash) 2012: Officer of the French Legion of Honour References External links Diplomatic Academy in Prague Cyril Svoboda - Politico 1956 births Living people Charles University alumni Politicians from Prague Interior ministers of the Czech Republic Regional Development ministers of the Czech Republic Foreign Ministers of the Czech Republic KDU-ČSL MPs Leaders of