As governor of the Czech National Bank, Josef Tosovsky (born 1950) served as one of the key figures in the newly privatized Czech economy. In 1997, he was named Prime Minister of the Czech Republic after a scandal forced his predecessor step down.

Widely recognized as one of the premier bankers in Europe, Josef Tosovsky served for several years as Governor of the Czech Republic's National Bank. In late 1997, he was appointed the role of Prime Minister when the previous occupant of that position, Vaclav Klaus, was forced to step down in the midst of a campaign finance scandal. Tosovsky's interim government, which aims to privatize the banking sector, faced a deadline of midsummer 1998, when elections brought in the Socialist Democrats, who do not fully support the reforms Tosovsky favors.

Early Career

Josef Tosovsky was born September 28, 1950, in the Czech city of Nachod. He graduated from the Prague School of...