President singles out Mf Dnes and Lidové noviny

Milos Zeman said on Sunday he will not grant interviews summarizing his activities as president to two national newspapers Lidové noviny and Mladá fronta Dnes. No concrete reason was given. The president made clear he would not turn down others. Mr Zeman has clashed with the media before, as prime minister he took issue with Mf Dnes; the editors-in-chief at both papers expressed surprise at the president’s words; Dalibor Balšínek of Mf Dnes replied that in the national election and as a presidential candidate Mr Zeman had been more than willing to talk to the daily; he suggested that the president was trying to now discredit media that could complicate matters for him as head-of-state.