Lany, Central Bohemia, Jan 7 (CTK) – Czech President Milos Zeman would back neither of the two rivals before the second round of the upcoming direct presidential election if he failed to advance to it himself, he told Frekvence 1 radio today, adding that his rival candidates lack necessary experience.
“If I failed in the election [first round due on January 12-13], which may happen, I would not cast my ballot [in the runoff vote two weeks later] as there would be no one for me to choose [from the two advancing candidates],” Zeman said.
He said the eight rival candidates have no political experience, except for former PM Mirek Topolanek and former ambassador Pavel Fischer. However, not even Topolanek and Fischer are proficient in the craft of politics, Zeman said.
Zeman seeks re-election for another five-year term.
Latest public opinion polls show him as an election favourite. He is expected to win the first round and advance to the second, where his most probable opponent will be former Science Academy chairman Jiri Drahos, judging by opinion polls’ results.
Asked by the interviewer, Zeman would not recommend whom of the candidates voters should support in the election.
“Cast your votes based on what work the candidates have done for the Czech Republic, on what they achieved, not what they are promising to do,” Zeman said.
If re-elected, he would grant presidential pardon only to people in difficult life situations.
He vowed the same before the previous presidential election in 2013, but still he granted pardon to Jiri Kajinek, a contract killer serving a life sentence, last year.
Zeman told Frekvence 1 today that he would not grant any such pardon any more.
He criticised the #MeToo campaign, within which women all over the world pointed out sexual pressure they faced.
Zeman called the campaign an initiative of suffragettes who, he said, suffer from inferiority complex.
The other presidential candidates, too, distanced themselves from the campaign in CTK’s recent poll, criticising the fact that anyone can face the accusations and that the accusations have hit mainly well-off men.
Commenting on the proposal that homosexual couples be enabled to adopt children, he said same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples and that he has nothing against such adoptions.
The other presidential bidders previously voiced different views on the issue. Some said they were for the adoption by homosexual couples, some would nod to it on certain conditions, while others spoke resolutely against it.
Zeman used a dirty word when commenting on the annual LGBT parades. “I really can see no reason for someone to stage marches through Prague and expose their naked ass,” he said.