Slouf and association chairman Miroslav Gregr (both CSSD) did not rule out that Is former PM Zeman making a political comeback? ...
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Police face action on NY killing ... they would strive for Zeman's election as Czech president in 2013. One of the members of the Friends of Milos Zeman is Slavomir Klaban, CSSD honorary chairman, Gregr, former industry and trade minister in Zeman's cabinet, told CTK today. Klaban has thereby supported a movement that is indirectly aimed against opposition CSSD current chairman Jiri Paroubek. Paroubek told reporters today he had no reason to react to the situation.
"This is up to Mr Klaban. It is an organisation standing close to Social Democracy," Paroubek said, commenting on Zeman's Friends. Zeman, 63, definitively retired from politics in 2003 after his unsuccessful presidential candidacy and he lives in his cottage in the Vysocina highlands. Though he vows never to return to active politics, he keeps commenting on current political events and enjoys a high influence in the CSSD. Zeman clashed with Paroubek whose political style he repeatedly criticised and he left the party last year. Zeman's supporters established the association this spring with the official aim to present Zeman's opinions, and turn politics into a public affair again and not only a matter of close groups of politicians. Gregr today dismissed the speculations that his association had ambitions to turn into a political party. The association allegedly wants to strive for Zeman's return to politics and promote his nomination for Czech president. President Vaclav Klaus, who was re-elected in February for another five-year term, today said Zeman is definitely a significant personality of the Czech political scene. "I do not doubt that he [Zeman] would manage the [presidential] function," said Klaus who beat Zeman in the presidential election in 2003. "I would not go on hunger strike if he [Zeman] were elected," Klaus added. Political analyst Vladimira Dvorakova said the current media activities of the Zeman's Friends association were driven by the effort to harm the current CSSD leadership. Slouf said the association would stage a meeting of all members in early October to vote on the draft programme statement. Some 500-700 people are expected to attend the meeting, he added. Zeman told public Czech Television (CT) on Monday that he as unaffiliated would not run for president for any political party. He added he would run only if "a majority of the political spectrum agreed on his candidacy," which, however, he himself called absurd.
(Ceske Noviny)
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