Czech President Backs Down on Gay Activist Issue

  

Czech President Milos Zeman’s pledge to be an activist head of state has plunged him into political hot water after he refused to rubber-stamp academic and foreign office appointments, while his lack of composure at a recent solemn event raised eyebrows.

 Today:

(PRAGUE) The Czech president says he will no longer block a university professorship for a gay rights activist who had been critical of him.

Milos Zeman has been under fire after suggesting over the weekend that his reason for denying the promotion to Charles University literary historian Martin C. Putna was his participation at a gay festival.

Politicians and universities have said Zeman's remark was an unacceptable intrusion on academic rights.

Czech presidents traditionally formally appoint the country's university professors, but in a deal struck Wednesday the government will change the law to give the power to education ministers instead.

Education Minister Petr Fiala will present the title to Putna. Zeman says after his meeting with Fiala that he is "very glad" the dispute has been solved.

From picture above: (AFP/Getty Images/Michal Cizek)

From left: Bishop Vaclav Maly, chairperson of Czech Parliament Miroslava 

Nemcova, Archbischop of Prague Cardinal Dominik Duka, and Czech 

President Milos Zeman look at the Crown of Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia

 before the opening of the ”Czech Jewels” exhibition on May 9, 2013, 

at Prague Castle. 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/22/3410351/czech-president-settles-dispute.html#storylink=cp
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