Open letter criticises new president for attack on freedom of speech

An open letter signed by notable Czech writers such as Ivan Klíma and Jáchym Topol, as well as journalist Bohumil Doležal and the head of the Jewish Museum in Prague Leo Pavlát, has criticised President Miloš Zeman for part of his inauguration speech last week that targeted a section of the Czech media. In his speech, the president said he would take aim at sections of the media that manipulated public opinion. Signatories of the open letter called his singling out of the media an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech and have asked for a full explanation. Copies of the letter have been sent to the prime minister, the speaker of the lower house, the heads of the senate and the head of the country’s largest opposition party.

Author: Jan Velinger