President slams prime minister, recalling own success as party chairman

President Miloš Zeman has rejected criticism by the prime minister, who had questioned his dedication to leftist politics, by drawing on his past record as chairman of the Social Democrats. In an interview for the daily Deník, posted by Prague Castle, the president pointed to his own track record, saying he had led the Social Democrats from just seven to 32 percent in the national election in the past, while in his view, the current party chairman, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, was "hurting the party". Mr Zeman pointed to the party's last election result, far lower than the 30 percent or more its chairman had sought. In the interview, by contrast, Mr Zeman had praise for ANO and the party's plans to field deputy ministers (as experts) in upcoming regional elections.

Author: Jan Velinger