Právo: Zeman is real threat to CzechRep

Prague, Jan 23 (CTK) - Milos Zeman is not only a bigger "evil" than Karel Schwarzenberg, but a real threat of authoritarian attitudes, emphasis on patriotism in the negative sense of the word and hostility to the "alien," Petr Uhl writes about the Czech presidential candidates in daily Pravo Wednesday.

Zeman, former Social Democrat (CSSD) prime minister, now Party of Citizens' Rights (SPOZ) honorary chairman, and Foreign Minister and TOP 09 head Schwarzenberg will compete for presidency in the first direct presidential election run-off vote on Friday and Saturday.

Uhl writes that he considers Zeman a proponent of Czech parochialism and continuation of the policy that outgoing President Vaclav Klaus has pursued in the past years.

He writes that Schwarzenberg bases his behaviour on loyalty to law, tradition, the higher moral principle and the morals of modern Europe.

Uhl writes that loyalty to law and to traditional morals are often at variance and that Schwarzenberg's steps in this respect have not always been to his liking and the liking of some 80 percent of citizens who are opposed to the centre-right coalition government of Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS).

"Yet, I consider him less controversial than Zeman in many respects," Uhl writes.

If Schwarzenberg is elected president, he will give up TOP 09 chairmanship and will probably be replaced by the unpopular Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, which could be an advantage for the left because TOP's voter preferences could decrease, the left-minded Uhl writes.

Zeman as president having constitutional powers and an extra-constitutional influence that he has already said he would apply, would split the CSSD in which he has and will have enough followers, Uhl writes.

Zeman can even disintegrate the whole left and the new cultural left standing outside the CSSD and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia(KSCM) cannot support him, Uhl writes.

He writes that Zeman, a would-be socialist, would discredit the socialists with his behaviour, people's disgust with politics would further increase and they would not go to any election.

If Zeman fails, it will also be a debacle of his strange mini-party that will cease to strip the CSSD of voter support and will not be able to become a coalition partner of the right, Uhl writes.

He says the left will get rid of Zeman definitively, which will also weaken Klaus who is by no means planning to leave for political retirement.

Harmony between Zeman and Klaus has been visibly growing, he adds.

Zeman is not leftist-minded irrespective of how this orientation may be comprehended, Uhl writes and says this is proved by Zeman's attitude to environment protection, Greek debts, Muslims and Arabs.

Zeman's radical opinions are at variance with the stands of a majority of citizens and EU states. That is why Zeman as president would be a security risk, Uhl writes.