Justice minister urges Zeman not to appoint Constitutional Court head in advance

Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has urged outgoing President Miloš Zeman not to destabilize the country by appointing a new Constitutional Court head several months in advance. Mr. Zeman, whose term in office ends on March 8, has said he is considering appointing a successor to Pavel Rychetský, head of the Constitutional Court, despite the fact that Rychetsky’s term in office will end in August and his successor should logically be appointed by the new president.

Minister Blažek said the move would cause confusion and legal uncertainty, adding that there was no point in Zeman entering into a drawn-out  battle with lawyers, politicians and the media at the end of his term. The minister said he would meet with the president to try to dissuade him from this course of action.