Miloš Zeman took his second presidential oath of office at Prague Castle
on Thursday at the start of a second five-year presidential term. The
inauguration ceremony in the historic Vladislav Hall took place in the
presence of both houses of Parliament.
Some 700 guests, including deputies, senators, diplomats and other
personalities attended the event, which was transmitted on a big screen on
nearby Hradčanské Square.
The president signed his oath of office at a table used by
Czechoslovakia’s first president Tomáš G. Masaryk which, like so many
other pieces of furniture and architectural elements at Prague Castle, was
designed by the Slovenian architect Jossip Plecnik.
The inauguration ceremony ended with the national anthem and a 21-gun
salute in the president’s honour.
In his inauguration speech the president criticized the media for
“mentoring the public”, expressed support for direct elections of
mayors and governors and said he would like to see Czechs become more
engaged in public affairs. A number of right-wing deputies left the
assembly hall in protest of the president’s criticism of the media.
After the ceremony, the head of state and the First Lady visited St.
Vitus’ Cathedral to pay homage to the remains of St Wenceslas, the patron
saint of the country.