President-elect to propose const. judges in March, June

Prague, Feb 18 (CTK) - Czech president-elect Milos Zeman will propose four candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court (US) shortly after his inauguration in March and another four in June, he said after meeting Senate chairman Milan Stech (opposition Social Democrats, CSSD) Monday.

Stech did not release any of the names discussed. He said the candidates would be respected experts.

"I believe I will propose the first four candidates in March and further four in June as I am obliged to do under law," Zeman said.

The term of seven judges of the 15-member US will expire this year. The court is lacking three members even now. If the number of US judges is lower than 12, the court stops checking bills and decrees.

Zeman plans to propose that US chairman Pavel Rychetsky whose mandate expires in summer be reappointed to his post.

Candidates for constitutional judges nominated by president are confirmed or rejected by the Senate. The CSSD senators now hold a majority in the upper house of parliament.

Stech said Zeman wanted to properly discuss the candidates for US judges with the Senate leadership.

Under Czech law, the senators should deal with the proposed candidates within 60 days. Stech said he believes 30 to 40 days should be enough.

Outgoing President Vaclav Klaus did not always find agreement on constitutional judges with the Senate. Klaus has proposed 20 candidates since 2003, seven of whom the Senate has rejected, including both whom Klaus proposed last year.

Stech and Zeman also talked about the details of Zeman's presidential inauguration that would be released later this week.

Zeman said he invited Klaus and his wife Livia Klausova and president Vaclav Havel's widow Dagmar Havlova to attend the inauguration ceremony.

He said he plans to have working lunch with lower house chairwoman Miroslava Nemcova (Civic Democrats, ODS).