Václav Havel supports Jan Švejnar in the presidential elections

The former Czech president Václav Havel on Tuesday threw his weight behind presidential candidate Jan Švejnar. Mr. Švejnar, a Czech-born professor of economics at Michigan University has emerged as the sole rival of incumbent President Václav Klaus, who is seeking re-election. In a radio interview on New Year’s Day, Mr Havel said the country needed fresh blood and fresh motivation. Reacting to objections that Mr Švejnar has U.S. as well as Czech citizenship and hadn’t lived in the Czech Republic for years, Mr Havel said his long-term stay abroad was an advantage and argued that he shouldn’t have to renounce his U.S. citizenship in order to be considered eligible for the post.