Miloš Zeman
Encyclopedia
Miloš Zeman (ˈmɪloʃ ˈzɛman; born 28 September 1944 in Kolín
) is a well-known Czech politician. He was a member and leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party
, former speaker of the chamber of deputies (lower house of the Czech parliament) from 1996 until 1998, and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 until 2002. He was a frequent rival of Václav Klaus
. Zeman transformed a weak Czech Social Democratic Party into one of the country's major parties along with the Civic Democratic Party.
He was replaced by Vladimír Špidla
as party leader. Zeman then retired and moved to live in the countryside (Vysočina Region
). His nomination for Czech president
failed six months later (to Václav Klaus
) due to party disunity. Zeman became an outspoken critic of former party's leaders.
He is known for his sharp, even insulting, speeches and wit. The Czech economy became stronger during his tenure as prime minister.
He left the Czech Social Democratic Party on 21 March 2007 due to conflicts with the current leader and chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party Jiří Paroubek
. During a visit of President Klaus in Zeman's countryside home in September 2007, Zeman agreed with Klaus that human activity probably could not influence global warming
.
In October 2009, he founded the Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci
.
The party received money from Zeman's right-hand man Miroslav Slouf
:
Slouf has been filmed on numerous occasions entering and leaving buildings belonging to the Russian embassy in the Prague 6 district.
In June 2011, Zeman, referring to Islam, said "The enemy is the anti-civilisation spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it." He likened Muslims who believe in the Qur'an
to antisemitic and racist Nazis. A complaint was lodged against him following the comments.
Kolín
Kolín is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic some east from Prague, lying on the Elbe river.-History:Kolín was founded by king Přemysl Otakar II in the 13th century, first mentioned in 1261. Later on, 1437, a castle was founded here...
) is a well-known Czech politician. He was a member and leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party
Czech Social Democratic Party
The Czech Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Czech Republic.-History:The Social Democratic Czechoslavonic party in Austria was founded on 7 April 1878 in Austria-Hungary representing the Kingdom of Bohemia in the Austrian parliament...
, former speaker of the chamber of deputies (lower house of the Czech parliament) from 1996 until 1998, and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 until 2002. He was a frequent rival of Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus is the second President of the Czech Republic and a former Prime Minister .An economist, he is co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party, the Czech Republic's largest center-right political party. Klaus is a eurosceptic, but he reluctantly endorsed the Lisbon treaty as president of...
. Zeman transformed a weak Czech Social Democratic Party into one of the country's major parties along with the Civic Democratic Party.
He was replaced by Vladimír Špidla
Vladimír Špidla
Vladimír Špidla is a Czech politician. He served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from July 2002 to June 2004. Then Vladimír Špidla was appointed to the European Commission as Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.-Biography:Špidla studied history at Charles...
as party leader. Zeman then retired and moved to live in the countryside (Vysočina Region
Vysocina Region
Vysočina Region , is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located partly in the south-eastern part of the historical region of Bohemia and partly in the south-west of the historical region of Moravia...
). His nomination for Czech president
President of the Czech Republic
The President of the Czech Republic is the head of state of the Czech Republic. Unlike his counterparts in Austria and Hungary, who are generally considered figureheads, the Czech President has a considerable role in political affairs...
failed six months later (to Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus
Václav Klaus is the second President of the Czech Republic and a former Prime Minister .An economist, he is co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party, the Czech Republic's largest center-right political party. Klaus is a eurosceptic, but he reluctantly endorsed the Lisbon treaty as president of...
) due to party disunity. Zeman became an outspoken critic of former party's leaders.
He is known for his sharp, even insulting, speeches and wit. The Czech economy became stronger during his tenure as prime minister.
He left the Czech Social Democratic Party on 21 March 2007 due to conflicts with the current leader and chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party Jiří Paroubek
Jirí Paroubek
Jiří Paroubek is a Czech politician, who served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 25 April 2005 to 16 August 2006. He was also Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party , but resigned from his position immediately after the result of the 2010 Legislative Election was announced...
. During a visit of President Klaus in Zeman's countryside home in September 2007, Zeman agreed with Klaus that human activity probably could not influence global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
.
In October 2009, he founded the Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci
Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci
The Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci is a social democratic political party in the Czech Republic founded in October 2009 by Miloš Zeman, a former prime minister and the former leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party....
.
The party received money from Zeman's right-hand man Miroslav Slouf
Miroslav Šlouf
Miroslav Šlouf is a Czech political lobbyist.Between 1981 and 1992 he was a member of the Czech National Council. In 2000, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for senate as a Chrudim District candidate of the Czech Social Democratic Party.The Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci received money from...
:
Slouf has been filmed on numerous occasions entering and leaving buildings belonging to the Russian embassy in the Prague 6 district.
In June 2011, Zeman, referring to Islam, said "The enemy is the anti-civilisation spreading from North Africa to Indonesia. Two billion people live in it." He likened Muslims who believe in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
to antisemitic and racist Nazis. A complaint was lodged against him following the comments.