UPDATE 1-Czech c.bank says Hampl to miss April 26 policy mtg

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PRAGUE, April 19 (Reuters) - Czech central bank (CNB) policymaker Mojmir Hampl will miss the monthly meeting on interest rates on April 26, when rate-setters will also discuss an updated inflation forecast, the CNB said on Thursday.

The CNB gave no reason for his absence, which was announced in a brief statement after a regular weekly meeting which had no policy issues on the agenda.

Hampl is seen as a pragmatic member of the seven-strong CNB policy board. He spoke against any near-term interest rate increase in his last public statement in mid-March.

His absence at next week's policy session means Governor Zdenek Tuma will cast the deciding vote in case of a tie among the six members of the board present at the meeting.

In a Reuters poll among 17 CNB watchers, all predicted interest rates would hold steady for the seventh consecutive month next week, as inflation remained below the central bank's target despite rebounding household demand.

Two mentioned the probability of a next rate hike in the second quarter. The rest stuck to the forecast of a 25 basis point rate increase no earlier than in July [CNB/INT].

STORY ON SHIFT IN CNB COMMUNICATION............[ID:nL1993581] REUTERS POLL ON INTEREST RATE FORECASTS........[ID:nL19109899] CZECH C.BANKERS' RECENT REMARKS ON POLICY......[ID:nL19132137]