President Klaus to meet with one-time rival Miloš Zeman

President Vaclav Klaus is scheduled to meet with his one-time rival and former prime minister Miloš Zeman at Prague Castle on Tuesday. Mr. Zeman, who left the Social Democrats in 2007, established a new political party late last year and announced his decision to run in the spring general elections. Mr. Zeman’s Party of Citizen’s Rights is being presented as a viable alternative to the Social Democrats, which its former leader has increasingly criticized. Commentators note that it is most unusual for President Klaus to receive heads of small, non-parliamentary parties and view the meeting as a mark of respect for his one-time rival.