President backs Citizens’ Rights

Czech President Miloš Zeman gave full backing to the extra-parliamentary Citizens’ Rights on Saturday, saying the party was a due a restart after last year’s poor result in the general election. He made clear he favored the party dropping the word ‘Zemanites’ from its name, to focus on a new programme, new leaders and new ideas ahead of communal, and later parliamentary, elections. He also said he would be happy to stay on as honorary chairman. Citizens’ Rights elected former head of the Agrarian Chamber, Jan Veleba, party leader, on Saturday. Mr Veleba has taken a page politically from Mr Zeman, drawing inspiration from the so-called Scandinavian model ie. social state.