President's address draws mixed reactions

President Miloš Zeman's Christmas address broadcast on Saturday was met with mixed reactions across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, while welcoming praise of his government on economic policy, said in his speech the president had held onto prejudices regarding the migration crisis and presented an oversimplified view. In his address, Mr Zeman maintained that the migrant crisis was an "organised invasion" and said the Czech Republic "did not and could not belong to all". Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, who received a nod in the speech, said he agreed with Mr Zeman's approach.

Politicians on the right side of the political spectrum were critical: the new head of TOP 09,Miroslav Kalousek, said the speech covered areas where the government and parliament and not the president had jurisdiction. Former foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg recommended that Mr Zeman visit actual refugees fleeing war-torn areas to see that migrants were not just "lone men" but also the elderly and children.

The Communist Party's Vojtěch Filip said the president had repeated long-held views.

Author: Jan Velinger