Zeman says health speculation pre-election campaign against him

President Miloš Zeman has described speculation about his state of health as a campaign against him in the run-up to a presidential election in January. In an interview published on the news site iDnes.cz, the head of state said his only health problem was neuropathy that made it difficult for him to walk.

Mr. Zeman said he had used a wheelchair once and this had caused a storm but he did not expect to need one regularly for 10 or more years. He said he would not publish a complete medical report on his health as he had done so before in the form of statements from his doctors.

The Office of the President is suing a local politician in Brno who said Mr. Zeman was suffering from cancer and had only months to live.