Czech presidential candidate Fischer against extremist-supported government

Former Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer (age 61) is considered the lead candidate for the upcoming direct presidential elections. Yesterday he presented his electoral program at the Žofín conference center in Prague. Many Czech personalities attended the presentation, including Vendula Svobodová, the president of “Drops of Hope” (Kapky naděje), film director Zdeněk Troška, actor Jan Přeučil and many others. Those in attendance listened to Fischer speak for almost one hour. Among other goals, the candidate said he mainly wants to do away with the immunity from prosecution currently enjoyed by the Czech President, Czech MPs and Czech Senators.

Fischer also assured his audience that he would never approve of a government supported by extremists. He made similar statements last Friday on Jan Kraus’s televised talk show, adding that his electoral slogan is “Responsibility, respectability, and refinement in politics”. He admitted that he has not yet read the programs of the other candidates and has no favorite among his opponents. “However, I would never vote for Mr Vandas, because he stirs up nationalist intolerance,” he said.

Selected points from Jan Fischer’s presidential program:

To not appoint a Prime Minister who is dependent on support from extremists, or on support from parties disputing the Czech Republic’s alliances, or any person suspected of corruption;

To not advocate for rigid federalization in the EU, nor for the model of a “hard core” and a periphery, but to advocate for flexible integration in which each country chooses the degree and pace of its integration;

To support steps to depoliticize and slim down the public administration;

To adopt a strict law regulating lobbying and requiring total asset reporting by constitutional officials when they take office;

To either abolish or strictly limit exceptions to security vetting for constitutional officials;

To abolish the immunity from prosecution for administrative violations and misdemeanors now enjoyed by the President, MPs and Senators;

To introduce the option of removing the President from office should the holder of that office commit a serious offense according to the Constitution;

To introduce Senate consent to the process of presidential appointments to the Banking Council of the Czech National Bank;

To introduce the institution of people’s initiatives, i.e., the right of a group of 50 000 citizens to introduce draft legislation which Parliament would then have to discuss;

To reduce the number of officials working at Prague Castle (the Office of the President) by one-fourth and the salary of the president by 20 %;

To publish the working program and all meetings attended by the President that concern the public interest;

To publish the President’s income and asset holdings;

To hold regular meetings with representatives of municipalities and the opposition as well as weekly meetings with the Prime Minister;

To support a foreign policy of diversified exports, development policy, humanitarian aid and advocacy for human rights.