 |
Jan Zahradil | |
|---|---|
 Zahradil in 2019 | |
| President of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party | |
| In office 1 October 2009 – 1 April 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Giorgia Meloni |
| Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists | |
| In office 8 March 2011 – 11 December 2011 | |
| Vice-Chair | Timothy Kirkhope |
| Preceded by | Michał Kamiński |
| Succeeded by | Martin Callanan |
| Vice-Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Czech Delegation | |
| In office 11 December 2011 – 12 June 2014 | |
| Chairman | Martin Callanan |
| Served alongside | Ryszard Legutko Derk Jan Eppink Geoffrey Van Orden |
| In office 24 June 2009 – 14 July 2009 | |
| Chairman | Timothy Kirkhope |
| Served alongside | Adam Bielan |
| Member of the European Parliament for the Czech Republic | |
| In office 1 May 2004 – 15 July 2024 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 20 June 1998 – 20 July 2004 | |
| Member of the Federal Assembly | |
| In office 6 June 1992 – 31 December 1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 March 1963 Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Political party | Civic Democratic Party (1991–present) |
| Alma mater | University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague |
| Profession | Scientist |
| Website | http://zahradil.eu |
Jan Zahradil (born 30 March 1963) is a Czech politician for the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) who had been Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2004 to 2024. Zahradil also served as Member of the Chamber of Deputies (MP) from 1998 to 2004.
A scientific researcher by profession, Zahradil entered politics during the Velvet Revolution. He was a member of the Federal Assembly of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, before becoming an adviser to Prime Minister Václav Klaus. In 1998, he was elected to the national Chamber of Deputies. Three years later, he became vice-chairman of the ODS. Following an unsuccessful attempt to become chairman in 2002, he was appointed First Vice-chairman.[citation needed] From his election to the Chamber of Deputies until 2006 he was the ODS shadow minister for Foreign Affairs.
He was appointed an MEP on the Czech Republic's accession to the EU, in May 2004, and was elected at the top of the ODS's list at the June 2004 election. He was elected head of the Civic Democrats' delegation in the European Parliament, in which capacity he led the negotiations that founded the European Conservatives and Reformists. He was re-elected in 2009 and became vice-chairman of the newly founded ECR. In March 2011, Zahradil was elected Chairman, replacing Michał Kamiński. He also sits on the Parliament's Committee on Development.[citation needed]