Zeman meets with Glauck in Berlin

Czech President Miloš Zeman got a word of advice from his German counterpart Joachim Glauck during their meeting in Berlin on Wednesday. During their luncheon, the German head-of-state suggested the role of the president was to act as a facilitator and conciliator – not as a “second government”. Mr Gauck, who had good relations with Mr Zeman’s predecessor, Václav Klaus, was referring to the ongoing political crisis in the Czech Republic and the president’s decision this week to name a new prime minister to head a technocrat government despite strong opposition from parties in the Chamber of Deputies. Critics have charged that he sidestepped the parliamentary system even though the Constitution allows the president to appoint whomever he wants.

Author: Masha Volynsky