Press Review
One day after the unsuccessful attempt to elect a new Czech head of state it's no surprise the papers are rather monothematic. The front pages are dominated by photos of the two more successful candidates who made it to the second and third round yesterday, Vaclav Klaus and Petr Pithart.
One day after the unsuccessful attempt to elect a new Czech head of state it's no surprise the papers are rather monothematic. The front pages are dominated by photos of the two more successful candidates who made it to the second and third round yesterday, Vaclav Klaus and Petr Pithart.
As has become quite usual, the main headlines in MLADA FRONTA DNES and LIDOVE NOVINY are almost identical, pointing out that Mr Klaus was the winner, but that the number of votes was not enough to guarantee him the post. The path is now clear for Milos Zeman, the papers say.
Milos Zeman, the retired former chairman of the Social Democratic Party, said recently he would run for the presidential office only in case the first attempt failed, which it indeed did. The editorial comment in LIDOVE NOVINY suggests Milos Zeman is the real winner of Tuesday's vote, while Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is the loser, having failed to unite his party and persuade its MPs and senators to vote first for Social Democrat Jaroslav Bures and then Petr Pithart.
MLADA FRONTA DNES reports on the split within the Social Democratic Party. According to the paper, one part of the Social Democrats blames prime minister and party chairman Spidla for mishandling the presidential election, threatening not to re-elect Mr Spidla at the party's spring congress. A strong faction within the party is still loyal to Mr Zeman and, by not voting for Jaroslav Bures, its members have significantly weakened Mr Spidla's position.
PRAVO carries an interview with the Christian Democrats' candidate Petr Pithart. He says he would like to take part in the next election as a candidate of the ruling coalition. Mr Pithart says he thinks that in case the Social Democrats do not appoint him but Mr Zeman as their candidate, the second election, too, will end in a stalemate - in Mr Pithart's opinion Mr Klaus and Mr Zeman will cancel out each other's chances.
Staying with PRAVO, the paper reports on what the lawmakers were talking about in the corridors of Prague Castle in between votes. For instance, someone said Mr Pithart could not become president because he wouldn't look good in a military uniform - the Czech President is also the chief commander of the Czech armed forces. Another topic discussed in the corridors was where the next head of state will live.
HOSPODARSKE NOVINY carries a photo of the outgoing President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar sitting in Mr Havel's office and attentively watching the election on television. After delivering a short opening speech at the parliament meeting, President Havel retired to his office to watch the rest on TV. In his speech, however, Mr Havel made it clear that he is not going to retire from public life and politics after his term expires in two weeks.
And, finally, MLADA FRONTA DNES writes on one group in society which is following the presidential election with special interest. It is the prisoners around the country who are hoping for a wide amnesty to be granted by a newly elected head of state. But it is not clear whether the new president will use this constitutional right at all. The only one who said he would grant a wider amnesty if elected was ombudsman Otakar Motejl, who in the end did not make it on the list of official candidates.
