Businessman Muzikář runs for Czech president

Prague, Sept 21 (CTK) - Czech businessman Karel Muzikar, aged 72, has announced his intention to run for the post of president, daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes Friday.

"Although there is a large number of candidates, they do not correspond with the demanding requirements of these women," Muzikar, considered a long-standing ally of President Vaclav Klaus, said at an informal meeting of the association of exceptional women on Thursday.

In fact, the "exceptional women" are ladies from business to whom Muzikar granted the titles of Lady Pro in the past, MfD writes.

"I, too, have come under the women's focus, although I do not consider myself the best in any respect," Muzikar said.

"However, I think it would not be bad if I ran," he added.

Muzikar presented a certificate attesting that he was not an agent of the StB Communist secret service to journalists.

However, Muzikar's former friendly relationship with Klaus has rather cooled, MfD writes.

Klaus no longer attends the ceremony of Muzikar's project at which he declares the annual Best 100 Czechs firms at Prague Castle, the presidential seat, it adds.

Czechs will elect their president directly for the first time next March, when Klaus's second and last possible term of office expires.