Havel throws support behind Greens

Former president Václav Havel has publicly endorsed the Green Party for parliamentary elections in May. In a letter entitled “We Choose the Green Party”, Mr Havel and dozens of other intellectuals wrote that Czech politics needed “green” politicians untouched by corruption scandals who would not abuse the public coffers or restrict the freedom of the media. President Havel also supported the Green Party in last year’s elections to the European Parliament. Their results in that poll were poor, in part due to the break-up of the coalition government of which they were a part. Current polls show she Green Party hovering around the 5% margin needed to win a parliamentary mandate.