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One of the strong favourites in the upcoming direct presidential election is Miloš Zeman, a former prime minister and ex-leader of the Social Democrats. He promises to be a “people’s president” who would unite and moderate political conflicts. However, some would say that in his long career, the prickly Mr. Zeman did very little of that.

The Prague High Court on Tuesday sentenced the former Civic Democrat MP Roman Pekárek to five years in prison for bribery and abuse of office. He is expected to begin serving his sentence in a few weeks time, but appears determined to keep his seat in the lower house of Parliament. The decision has caused an outcry since under Czech law he cannot be forced to give up his mandate.

Among the organizations keeping the legacy of the country’s first post-communist president alive is the Václav Havel Library, which was established back in 2004 but has boosted its activities since he passed away in December last year. This year the Václav Havel Library began expanding – starting the process of opening a branch in the United States. Masha Volynsky reports.

A series of events have been held in Prague and elsewhere in the Czech Republic observing the first anniversary of the death of Václav Havel, who led the country to democracy in 1989’s Velvet Revolution. The commemorations have included the unveiling of a new plaque to the late president at a statue of Woodrow Wilson in the capital.

One of the favourites in the Czech presidential race is former prime minister Jan Fischer. For his supporters, he proved himself as the leader of a caretaker government a few years ago. He is seen as a safe pair of hands and a man who would rock the boat less than the divisive incumbent, Václav Klaus. But for others, Jan Fischer would be unacceptable because he was a member of the pre-1989 Communist Party.

Václav Klaus made what is now a limited number of appearances on Czech television as president this weekend – speaking to TV Prima’s weekly politics programme Nedělní Partie in a special edition from Prague Castle. President Klaus – who has 80 days left in office – spoke at length about the pressing economic and political problems of the day, but also gave more hints about exactly what he plans to do – and not do – when he steps down in March.

A unique new museum is due to open in the Czech Republic next autumn – rather ten museums in one, spread out in ten towns and cities across the country. Called ’10 Stars’, the museum will be housed in synagogues and will tell the story of local Jewish communities which all but vanished in the Holocaust.

A rising star of Czech left-wing politics, Social Democrat Senator Jiří Dienstbier promises to be a credible and consistent president. He presents himself as a politician with strong social values and as a leader who would bring the country into the mainstream of the European Union. According to the polls, he is not among the favourites for president. But that could change due to his popularity among left-leaning voters and some civic groups.

The Supreme Administrative Court on Thursday upheld the validity of a law on direct presidential elections, but found fault with the way that the interior ministry had interpreted one of its articles. Although the ruling is a victory for presidential hopeful Jana Bobošíková, doubts regarding ambiguities in the hastily-drafted legislation remain, with the chairman of the court himself questioning whether the long-awaited popular vote should go ahead.

The chairman of TOP 09, Karel Schwarzenberg is one of three candidates for president nominated by a party in Parliament. The blue-blooded Mr. Schwarzenberg is – at 75 – also the oldest of those in the running. But his closeness to the late Václav Havel and doddery but decent image could stand him in good stead in the polls.