At 82, Zeman Doesn't Rule Out Another Run for Czech President

Former Czech President Miloš Zeman, who held the office for two consecutive terms from 2013 to 2023, has said he doesn't rule out making another bid for the country's top job in the 2028 presidential election. He made the remarks in an interview with iDnes.

"Of course it appeals to me. Deep down, I still think about it," the 82-year-old politician admitted. He was quick to add, however, that he has his own "alter ego" that reminds him: "Miloš, you're 82 years old, and you shouldn't turn into the Czech Biden" — a reference to former US President Joe Biden, whose cognitive abilities came under scrutiny toward the end of his term.

Reactions from Pavel and Political Analysts

Current President Petr Pavel described Zeman's comments as a sign of good health. "Miloš Zeman has said in the past that he wouldn't run again, but he's also said that only fools never change their mind. So it seems he's stayed true to himself," Pavel told reporters during a visit to Nové Město na Moravě, adding that he wished his former colleague good health.

Political analysts, however, are in no rush to take Zeman's statement seriously. Political scientist Otto Eibl from Masaryk University called a potential candidacy unrealistic given the former president's health and general physical condition. In his view, it's more of a "summer jab," intended to get Zeman's name back into the headlines.

Political analyst Michal Malý from Charles University holds a similar view, noting that age remains the main obstacle for Zeman. The expert believes the former president is simply bored and is trying to provoke the ruling coalition, which has yet to decide who it will back in the next presidential race — especially since Zeman has already called MP and former Chamber of Deputies Speaker Radek Vondráček (ANO) the "optimal candidate" for the post.

Current President Petr Pavel himself has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a second term, though he has repeatedly hinted that it's fairly likely. Under the Czech Constitution, no one may be elected president more than twice in a row — but running again after a break is not prohibited, a rule that also applies to Zeman, who has announced his retirement from politics several times before.

Source: novinky.cz