Czech president appoints two new central bankers

PRAGUE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus appointed two new members -- academic Vladimir Tomsik and right-wing liberal economist Mojmir Hampl -- to the central bank's seven-strong interest rate-setting board on Tuesday.

The president, who has the power to chose central bankers without the government or parliament having to agree, is replacing hawkish-leaning Michaela Erbenova and outspoken inflation dove Jan Frait. Their six-year terms end on Nov. 30.

The replacements were announced on Friday and Monday.

Analysts have said it is too early to judge policy preferences of the two new members and expect no significant shift in policy at the bank. Ham,tpl and Tomsik will decide on interest rates for the first time at the Dec. 20 policy meeting.

The Czech president has been one of the most vocal opponents of closer European integration in the European Union and analysts said his decision to pick Hampl for the job might reinforce the bank's cautious stance on adoption of the euro. ((Reporting by Marek Petrus; Editing by David Christian-Edwards; Reuters Messaging: rm://marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; e-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com or marek.petrus@reuters.com; Tel: +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH CENTRALBANK/