Klaus calls direct presidential election a fatal mistake

Prague, Dec 18 (CTK) - A direct election of Czech president is a fatal mistake and it will look like a Superstar contest, President Vaclav Klaus said on a Prima TV discussion programme Sunday.

The government coalition and the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) passed the bill on a direct election in the lower house of Czech parliament on Wednesday. The upper house is yet to discuss the bill.

Under the bill, a presidential candidate could be proposed by at least 50,000 citizens over 18 years signing a petition, or at least 20 deputies or ten senators.

"I consider the direction presidential election a fatal mistake," Klaus said.

The election of Czech president by a joint session of both houses of parliament might have seemed complicated and accompanied by many disputes and suspicions, but the direct election would become "a new big Czech Superstar" contest where rational considerations will be put aside, he said.

Klaus said a direct election was good in a presidential system, for example in the United States where the president is a key player on the political scene.

But a directly elected president in the Czech Republic would not have the present limited presidential powers extended but rather further reduced, Klaus said. At the same time, the direct election would strengthen the president's position, which may be dangerous, he added.

Klaus indicated that a directly elected president would focus on being popular among the citizens rather than on being a unifying element of the political scene.

The president may have no link to the political scene and play only his or her own game, Klaus said.