Civic Democrats back foreign minister against president

The senior coalition Civic Democrats have backed Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, of TOP 09, in his row with the president over ambassadorial appointments. In a reference to President Zeman’s efforts to take over the appointments, the Civic Democrat leadership on Friday said they rejected any extraordinary procedures, and did not want the country to move towards a semi-presidential system. Mr Zeman and Mr Schwarzenberg, formerly rivals in the presidential vote, have clashed over the president’s picks of ambassadors in Russia and Slovakia.

Author: Jan Richter