President in support of direct election of mayors and governors

President Miloš Zeman has spoken out in favour of a direct election of mayors and governors. Speaking at the weekend conference of the extra-parliamentary party Citizens' Rights – Zemanites of which he is honorary chairman, Mr. Zeman said mayors should be elected by the will of the people, according to a system where by the candidate with the most preferential votes from the winning party should take up the post. The Citizens' Rights party which was founded by Mr. Zeman’s sympathizers and promotes his philosophy never gained enough supporters to become a significant political force. Its chairman Senator Jan Veleba said the party was in favour of more elements of direct democracy in the political system.