Miloš Zeman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miloš Zeman
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Zeman in 2022
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| 3rd President of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 8 March 2013 – 8 March 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | Petr Nečas Jiří Rusnok Bohuslav Sobotka Andrej Babiš Petr Fiala |
| Preceded by | Václav Klaus |
| Succeeded by | Petr Pavel |
| Prime Minister of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 17 July 1998 – 15 July 2002 |
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| President | Václav Havel |
| Preceded by | Josef Tošovský |
| Succeeded by | Vladimír Špidla |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 27 June 1996 – 17 July 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Milan Uhde |
| Succeeded by | Václav Klaus |
| Leader of the Social Democratic Party | |
| In office 28 February 1993 – 7 April 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Jiří Horák |
| Succeeded by | Vladimír Špidla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 September 1944 Kolín, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Czech Republic) |
| Political party | Communist Party (1968–1970) Civic Forum (1990–1991) Civic Movement (1991–1992) Social Democratic Party (1992–2007) Independent (2007–2009, 1970–1990) Party of Civic Rights (2009–2022) |
| Spouses |
Blanka Zemanová
(m. 1971; div. 1978)Ivana Bednarčíková
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Economics, Prague |
| Signature |  |
Miloš Zeman (Czech: [ˈmɪloʃ ˈzɛman] (
listen); born 28 September 1944) is a Czech politician. He served as the third President of the Czech Republic from 2013 to 2023. Before that, he was the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002.
As the leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party from 1993 to 2001, he helped make it one of the country's main political groups. Zeman was also the President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 1998. He has often been a topic of discussion and faced criticism during his career.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Miloš Zeman was born in Kolín, a city in the Czech Republic. His parents divorced when he was two years old. He was raised by his mother, who worked as a teacher.
He went to high school in Kolín. Later, in 1965, he began studying at the University of Economics in Prague. He finished his studies and graduated in 1969.
Early Political Career
Zeman joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1968. This was during a time known as the Prague Spring, when there were hopes for more freedom. However, he was removed from the party in 1970. This happened because he disagreed with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.
After leaving the party, he lost his job. For more than ten years, from 1971 to 1984, he worked for a sports organization called Sportpropag. Later, he worked at a company named Agrodat. In 1989, he lost this job too. This was after he wrote an article that criticized the government.
In the summer of 1989, Zeman appeared on television. He spoke about the poor state of the Czechoslovak economy. His speech caused a stir. However, his ideas helped him join the leaders of the Civic Forum a few months later. This was during the Velvet Revolution, which led to the end of communist rule.
Rise to Power
In 1990, Zeman became a member of the Czechoslovak Federal Assembly. In 1992, he joined the Czechoslovak Social Democracy (ČSSD). He was then elected to the Federal Assembly again.
In 1993, he became the chairman of the ČSSD party. Over the next few years, he worked to make it one of the most important political parties in the country.
The ČSSD did well in the 1996 election. This allowed Zeman to stop his rival, Václav Klaus, from forming a strong government. Zeman became the President of the Chamber of Deputies. He held this position until the next election in 1998.
In 1998, the ČSSD won the election. Zeman then became the Prime Minister. He led a government for four years. In April 2001, Vladimír Špidla took over as party leader. Zeman then retired and moved to the countryside.
He tried to become president in 2002 but lost the 2003 election to Václav Klaus. Zeman later became a strong critic of his former party's leaders. He left the ČSSD in 2007 because of disagreements with the party chairman, Jiří Paroubek.
In 2009, Zeman started a new party called Party of Civic Rights – Zemanovci. This party did not win any seats in the elections held in 2010, 2013, or 2017.
Presidency (2013–2023)
In February 2012, Miloš Zeman announced he would return to politics. He planned to run in the first direct presidential election in the Czech Republic. Early polls showed he was one of the strongest candidates. Zeman won the first round of the election. He then faced Karel Schwarzenberg in the second round and won by a clear margin. His term as president began in March 2013.
In May 2013, Zeman refused to make Martin C. Putna, a literary historian, a tenured professor. This was because Putna had appeared at a Gay Pride event in 2011.
In June 2013, the government led by Petr Nečas fell apart. This happened due to a scandal involving corruption. Zeman then appointed his friend Jiří Rusnok as Prime Minister. This decision caused some debate, as it seemed to go against the usual political process. Some media outlets called it a move to increase his power. Rusnok's government did not last long and resigned after losing a vote in parliament.
Zeman was also involved in a political event in October 2013. After the 2013 Czech legislative election, some leaders in the ČSSD party tried to remove their chairman, Bohuslav Sobotka. It was later revealed that these leaders had met secretly with Zeman. This meeting caused public protests. Zeman denied starting the meeting.
In April 2014, after Russia took over Crimea, Zeman called for strong action. He suggested that NATO forces might need to go into Ukraine if Russia tried to take more land. The Czech Republic has been a NATO member since 1999, when Zeman was prime minister.
In November 2014, during celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, some people protested against Zeman. Many Czechs felt that Zeman was not upholding the values of Václav Havel, who was a champion of human rights. Protesters believed Zeman was too friendly with authoritarian regimes and too close to Russia and China. They showed red cards, like in football, to symbolize a warning to Zeman, and threw eggs at him.
In March 2016, a poll showed that 62% of Czechs trusted President Zeman. However, by December 2016, his approval rating dropped to 48% after some issues.
On 9 March 2017, Zeman announced he would run for president again. He said he was encouraged by public support. He stated he would not run a traditional campaign or attack his rivals.
Zeman ran for a second term in the 2018 Czech presidential election. He won the election with 51.37% of the votes in the second round.
On 10 October 2021, after the 2021 Czech legislative election, Zeman was hospitalized. This caused delays in forming a new government. After some time, the Senate President announced that Zeman was "unable to perform any work duties due to health reasons." Zeman was later discharged but returned to the hospital for two more days after testing positive for COVID-19.
On 19 October 2022, Zeman announced he would retire from politics when his second term ended in March 2023.
After the Presidency
On 19 April 2023, Zeman opened a new office in Prague 6. He said he plans to welcome visitors there once a week.
In April 2024, Zeman spoke at a political event. He said he hoped the next Czech government would be made up of the ANO 2011 and Freedom and Direct Democracy parties.
Political Beliefs
Zeman was seen as a centre-left politician when he was prime minister. However, as president, he became known for his anti-immigration views, especially during the European migrant crisis.
Gun Control
In 2016, after several terror attacks in Europe, Zeman suggested that Czech gun owners with special licenses should carry their firearms. He believed this would help protect people in public places. His wife also got a license and a revolver.
European Union
Zeman has expressed both support and criticism for the European Union. As prime minister, he helped the Czech Republic join the EU. He has called himself a "federalist" who supports being part of the EU.
Before becoming president, he promised to fly the flag of Europe at Prague Castle. His predecessor, Václav Klaus, had refused to do this. Zeman did so shortly after taking office. On the same day, he approved a treaty that Klaus had also refused, making the Czech Republic the last country to do so. In June 2017, Zeman said that Czech people were "irrationally afraid" of using the Euro as their currency.
Despite some pro-EU statements, Zeman supports holding a public vote on Czech EU membership. This would be similar to the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom. He is also seen as a Eurosceptic and does not agree with the EU's rules on migrants. Some critics have said he favors Russia over the EU.
Environment and Climate Change
Like his predecessor Václav Klaus, Zeman has expressed doubts about climate change. He has said that he believes human activity probably cannot affect global warming.
Israel
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Zeman has long been a supporter of the country of Israel.
He ordered the Israeli flag to be flown at Prague Castle. This was to show support for Israel during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.
Kosovo
Zeman is against having a Czech embassy in Kosovo. He has said he is against the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state. When visiting Belgrade in 2014, he spoke against the idea of Kosovo forming its own army. He compared it to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which he noted had committed terrorist acts in the past. During the same visit, he said he hoped Serbia would join the European Union soon.
United States and NATO
Zeman played a role in the Czech Republic joining NATO. However, he has also called for a public vote on NATO membership, though he supports staying in the organization. In November 2012, Zeman explained his dislike for Madeleine Albright, a former US Secretary of State. He stated that Albright had promised there would be no bombing of civilians during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, but he felt she did not keep that promise.
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On 18 May 2021, during a visit by the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, Zeman apologized to Serbia for the 1999 NATO bombing. He called it a "mistake and worse than a crime."
Personal Life and Health
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In the 1970s, Zeman was married to Blanka Zemanová. They divorced in 1978. In 1993, he married his assistant, Ivana Bednarčíková.
He has an adult son named David from his first marriage. His daughter from his second marriage, Kateřina Zemanová, was very active in his presidential election campaign. After he won, Zeman asked her to be his "informal First Lady." This was because his wife is reportedly shy and does not like media attention. When asked about his religious beliefs, Zeman describes himself as a "tolerant atheist."
Zeman has diabetic neuropathy in his feet. This condition makes it difficult for him to walk, and he sometimes uses a wheelchair. In March 2024, he was hospitalized for a blood clot in his leg and had surgery. He was discharged in April.
Awards and Honors
From the Czech Republic
Former leader of the Order of the White Lion (2013–2023)
Former leader of the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (2013–2023)
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From Other Countries
Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2023)
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2014)
Hungary: Grand Cross with Chain of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2023)
Israel: Recipient of the President's Medal (2022)
Jordan: Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali (2015)
North Macedonia: Recipient of the Order 8-September (2016)
Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (2016)
Serbia: Second Class of the Order of the Republic of Serbia (2020)
Slovakia: First Class of the Order of the White Double Cross (2014)
Slovenia: Recipient of the Order for Exceptional Merits (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Miloš Zeman para niños
