No return for Pink Panther - Milos Zeman speaks out at Prague's Zofin Palace

It was one of the more anticipated events this year - an economics presentation at Prague's Zofin Palace which attracted hundreds on Thursday. Its key speaker was former prime minister and former Social Democrat leader Milos Zeman. While this month the current Social Democrat-led government has staked its survival on passing much-needed fiscal reforms, it is well-known Mr Zeman was at odds with the proposals. It was expected he would tear into his former colleagues' plans and, in the end, he did.

No return for Pink Panther - Milos Zeman speaks out at Prague's Zofin Palace

Jan Velinger was there - tell me Jan, what was it like?

Milos Zeman, photo: CTK

"Dita, the excitement and tension were certainly palpable Thursday just before the former Social Democrat leader stepped up to the podium. When he did it was clear from the first seconds, for better or worse, it was the old Zeman once again: full of bluster, careful timing and the usual bon-mots. He hadn't spoken publicly since his failed presidential bid in February and many hardcore faithful, as well as some former members of government, were present to lap it up. To take in once more the aura of the leader who led them through their party's golden years."

In the end was Mr Zeman as critical as expected of his successor's government - and the fiscal reforms?

"Yes, overall he definitely was: the cornerstone of his argument was nothing less than his conviction the Social Democratic Party - led by Prime Minister Spidla - had betrayed its pre-election programme - and to a certain extent the party's roots. He said those were largely based on the notion of solidarity - a key trait for the political Left. Taking on the reforms Mr Zeman said as proposed they would hurt those who couldn't defend themselves: the sick, the poor, and so on. In fact, he said he considered it an affront that the proposed bills were even being called reforms at all. He sees them as clearly half-baked solutions which he compared to special measures packages used by Mr Klaus' right-of-centre government in the late 1990s."

What about Mr Zeman himself: is there any speculation about his possible return to politics?

"There is always speculation as far as Mr Zeman is concerned - we all know he was unable to resist a run for the presidency, coming out of retirement earlier this year. This time, though he made it clear his career in politics really was over - in his words - there will be no return of the Pink Panther. That's the expression he used. Just what he meant by that is a little bit unclear - we can be sure he'd never compare himself the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, even if he is somewhat blusterous. Yesterday, for example, he compared the current government to little grey mice - who, if gone unchecked would turn into a rat. That brought a roomful of laughter and applause - vintage Zeman, perhaps, but Zeman without the former credibility and punch of party leader - the position he once held."