Franz criticises Zeman for including him in presidential campaign

Prague, Jan 25 (CTK) - Unsuccessful Czech presidential candidate Vladimir Franz, a tattooed music composer, told the website of daily Lidove noviny Friday that Milos Zeman misused him in the presidential runoff election.

Zeman (Party of Citizens' Rights, SPOZ) used Franz in his election campaign. The photographs of Franz and Jan Fischer (both unaffiliated) were part of an advertisement appearing in Friday's press and calling on people to vote for former socialist prime minister Zeman.

Franz pointed out that he explicitly said he does not recommend to his voters whether to support Zeman or his rival, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09).

He only said he would cast his vote for Zeman.

The runoff election is "a choice between swine flu and bird flu. I have chosen swine flu," Franz said in a statement sent to CTK on Thursday.

Franz said he did not promise Zeman his support and Zeman has manipulated with his statement.

Moreover, he criticised the fact that in the press ad he appeared next to former caretaker cabinet head Fischer whom he does not at all respect and against whom he fought.

Franz, a 53-year-old painter and composer with tattoos all over his body including his face and bald head, was not engaged in Czech politics before the presidential election. He ended fifth of nine candidates in the first round of the election, winning nearly 7 percent of the vote. He was popular especially among young people.