I learn the ebook Conspiracy, which offers with the alleged try and take away your powers throughout your sickness 2.5 years in the past. The authors say that Andrej Babiš he then declined the choice you gave him of entrusting him with the formation of his personal cupboard, as a result of he was then afraid of your well being, and that he wouldn’t be capable of depend on you, as you won’t be among the many dwelling. Is it true?
“It is partially true. I used to be lately at an occasion with Andrej Babiš, and there he publicly mentioned that the then director of the Central Army Hospital, Mirek Zavoral, informed him that I might not go away the hospital. Mirek Zavoral denies this assertion. However my caregiver additionally confirms it. Nicely, as you already know the Bible says, within the mouth of two witnesses let each phrase be saved. I like Mirko Zavoral fairly a bit, I believe that he took care of me and I attribute these and related statements extra to some sort of alibi, in case issues turned out badly, in order that he wouldn’t be accused of a scarcity of care. Nevertheless, it’s also a incontrovertible fact that if you happen to inform Andrej Babiš this at a time when I’m providing Babiš the place of prime minister twice in a row, he’ll say to himself: I can’t settle for it, as a result of Miloš might die or be completely within the hospital and I might not have assist. Maybe, with this assertion, Mirek Zavoral considerably shifted Czech historical past.”
And you actually assume that Andrej Babiš would have put collectively the federal government along with your assist and would now be prime minister.
“I mentioned publicly that shortly earlier than the 2021 elections, Petr Fiala was with me and Pavel Blažek, and once I requested them if they’d be keen to enter a coalition with ANO, they each answered within the affirmative.”
Allegedly, at one of many conferences on this composition, you conditioned the appointment of your complete cupboard, together with International Minister Lipavskýby the prime minister signing the abolition for Vratislav Mynář. Is that this true?
“Once I was coping with Petr Fiala, I requested him if he was keen to signal this abolition and I’ll quote him verbatim, he mentioned: I haven’t got an issue with that. And that is all I can say to that.’
And you then appointed the federal government and there was no abolition. So the promise you heard on this sentence was not fulfilled.
“It is as much as you to place the 2 issues in context, and you’ve got a sacred proper to take action. There have been two events on the opposite facet of the abolition negotiations, and neither facet ever linked it to the query of presidency approval. But when I am being goal, this promise by Fial actually made the environment of the following assembly extra nice.”
So that you relate it to the dynamics of the assembly.
“Nicely, to the query of whether or not Petr Fiala saved his phrase, I state that he didn’t, and as you may see, I nonetheless appointed him the federal government.”
You warn me to not hyperlink it, I perceive why you do it. You say: I did not say that I’ll do A in the event that they do B, however the connection was there in spite of everything…
“Souvis is a pleasant Czech phrase. You may think about it throughout the assembly, but it surely was not explicitly talked about.”
So you might be legally out of obligation.
“I do not need to draw back from it. Do not forget these two details. When you imagine me that Petr Fiala mentioned that he was keen to enter a coalition with the ANO motion after which refused, and if you happen to imagine that Petr Fiala mentioned that it was acceptable for him to provide the abolition to Chancellor Mynář, after which he didn’t comply with by means of with both… so I wish to emphasize that an individual who doesn’t maintain his phrase twice just isn’t utterly reliable.”
Abolition? Who’s telling the reality?
Do you’ve proof for this?
“In contrast to another politicians or secret service chiefs, I do not wiretap personal conferences. Pavel Blažek was not current at this assembly, he was subsequently knowledgeable as a result of Petr Fiala approved him to implement the abolition. The abolition is countersigned by the Prime Minister, however the Minister of Justice is in command of the technical implementation. So let’s wait and see if Pavel Blažek will affirm it for you. In that case, he can be telling the reality. Or he’ll deny it to you.”
Why did you are feeling such an intense want for abolition for Vratislav Mynar? You do not imagine in his innocence (he’s indicted for subsidy fraud – editor’s observe)?
“To begin with, as a result of I do know him, that after 10 years of cooperation I can say that he’s an individual who could be totally trusted. I’m after all sorry that he was subjected to media strain. By the best way, in addition they burned down his cabin. Within the case through which he’s accused, the general public prosecutor himself proposes, which the media largely didn’t point out, solely a situation. It’s fairly a similar matter, just like the Sparrow’s Nest, so based mostly on my ten years of cooperation with him, I thought-about it, for instance, humanly sincere to understand this cooperation by additionally asking the Prime Minister to co-sign the abolition. Nicely, I informed you the way it turned out some time in the past.’
Do you assume that Mr. Mynář is being indicted as a result of he labored for you, and never as a result of he ought to have dedicated one thing?
“He’s being indicted primarily as a result of he was my chancellor, which after all is, and now I’ll communicate a bit like Andrej Babiš, a little bit of a purposeful prosecution.”
And purposeful why? And who, when Pavel Blažek sits on the Ministry of Justice, who actually has no drawback with you or the folks round you? After all, I am not saying that it influences the courts, it will possibly’t…
“I do not precisely blame Pavel Blažek for letting Vratislav Mynář be prosecuted. Right here you merely have in depth media strain, beneath which the courts could make completely mindless and, on this sense, purposeful selections.”
Try and attraction
I’ll return to the Conspiracy ebook the place the authors argue that in 2021 you weren’t as unwell because the hospital declared once they mentioned you could possibly not maintain your place. Then I do not perceive why you did not give your consent for the Citadel to higher inform about your situation and diffuse the entire thing.
“I didn’t stop anybody from informing about my state of well being. Now I used to be within the Motol hospital with a blocked artery, and it reported in truth about my state of well being with none issues and held press conferences virtually on daily basis. It was completely high-quality. I do not know why the ÚVN didn’t do the identical. There have been no such obstacles from my facet or my household’s facet.’
This utterly adjustments the narrative as a result of your folks have been saying all alongside that they cannot go into element due to the shortage of your consent.
“However someplace. I merely didn’t give my consent for my well being situation to be described intimately, as a result of that may be a well being secret. As well as, I positively didn’t give my consent for the Střešovice hospital to put in writing to Mr. Vystrčil, that I’m unable to carry out my perform, simply as I didn’t consent to the attending doctor forbidding my lawyer to go to me and even forbidding me to signal any paperwork as president. So it could be good if you happen to not solely learn the ebook, but additionally put it in context. Then you will discover out that there have been a number of senators and never solely senators who tried to use Article 66 of the Structure, that they didn’t succeed. And that is the tip of the story.”
Nicely, however the one means out at that second was to inform my analysis. I nonetheless do not perceive why it did not occur.
“I’ve informed my analysis many instances. I can not go into extra element as a result of I am not a health care provider, however my analysis, briefly, was dehydration.”
But it surely’s extra sophisticated. In that booklet there’s for instance a medical report that addresses what remedy is appropriate for you attributable to liver dysfunction.
“After all, I do not know what remedy I had. So far as I do know, the liver assessments I had have been high-quality. I do not find out about taking any remedy for cirrhosis, for instance. There have been medicine for diabetes and a complete host of different issues. However on condition that Mrs. Stehlíková (Džamila – editor’s observe) claimed that I used to be affected by a metabolic dysfunction, and the first college physician there even wrote within the admission protocol with out inspecting me, in order that subsequently the biochemistry confirmed that there was no dysfunction… My analysis was drainage, which looks as if a small factor, however those that know medication know that it may be a really critical illness.’
He was near amputation
How life-threatening did you are feeling over the past medical incident?
“Nicely, not a lot at risk of life, however at risk of the leg, sure. It was only a matter of time and I might have joined you by one leg. That leg can be amputated exactly due to the thrombosis. Because of the medical doctors, but additionally because of the well timed detection of the entire drawback, it was managed to avert it, and naturally I thank the Motol hospital as soon as once more very a lot.”
If you drive round Prague by automobile and also you see Prague Citadel within the distance, is there nostalgia, is there any remorse that you’re now not there?
“I used to be pleased with every part I used to be. This contains you leaving some features or positions or locations with the expectation of issues to return. In my case, it was a phenomenal home in Lány with a Japanese backyard and a big library. When you’ve one thing to look ahead to, the previous just isn’t nostalgic.”
Petr Pavel has been on the Citadel for a little bit over a yr. Negotiations relating to the so-called pension reform, the place he tried to average the dialogue between the coalition and the opposition, lately broke down. Did he underestimate it?
“I’ve constantly mentioned about Peter Pavlov that I can’t communicate properly of him, I don’t need to communicate badly of him, as a result of it could not be well mannered. The place of president is the very best political place and, for my part, it ought to be held by an skilled politician. This political inexperience confirmed itself exactly with the pension reform. The intention to average the controversy was not ready by the negotiations that an skilled politician would have accomplished with each events. Then it could not be attainable for the Prime Minister to declare that it doesn’t matter what occurs, the coalition will push by means of the pension reform in its present type with its »hundred and eight«. By doing so, the Prime Minister truly tripped up the President and his mediation efforts, and I am not stunned that YES left such a gathering.”
So the president ought to have dealt straight with Andrej Babiš.
“I might positively do it that means, however that additionally will depend on private relationships, my relationship with Andrej Babiš is certainly not hostile, somewhat the alternative. However the crux of the matter, for my part, lies in Prime Minister Fiala’s ill-advised assertion.”
Is not the crux of the matter somewhat that YES wouldn’t even agree with the coalition on the truth that the sky is blue earlier than the elections?
“At one time, the ANO motion participated within the dialogue on international coverage and managed to seek out settlement there.”
So what future awaits not solely the aged, but additionally the younger with a reform that the present authorities will approve and the following one would possibly instantly cancel?
“I criticize the rise within the retirement age, however I assist the precept that when somebody criticizes one thing, they need to additionally current a constructive different. I’ve lengthy really helpful that the answer and actual pension reform be a transition to a average improve in social insurance coverage. That is only a tax that differs from different taxes in that it’s particularly linked to the cost of old-age pensions. At the moment, the pension account is in deficit and it’s proposed that this deficit be lined by the proceeds of different taxes, however it’s much more pure whether it is lined by the earnings of the tax that’s particularly meant for this objective. In that case, it could not be crucial to increase the retirement age. I observe that 65 years is the standard common all through Europe.”
And do you assume this is able to be politically acceptable?
“That may be politically satisfactory, however after all until somebody makes use of it as their coat of arms, it is nothing greater than a attainable topic.”
The European elections are across the nook. You assume the dynamic between the opposition and the coalition is okay, when ex-prime minister Babiš criticizes the ammunition initiative, says that Petr Fiala is the prime minister of Ukraine, and the coalition repaints flags on billboards and writes that YES is pro-Russian…
“I’ve no drawback with the ammunition initiative, and so far as I do know, Andrej Babiš solely blames it for the shortage of transparency. Then again, I perceive those that name for a peaceable answer, and I do not name them “peacemakers”. I’m simply stating the present scenario, which can result in a breach of Ukrainian defenses, through which case peace negotiations might block the Russian offensive. As for the general opinion of Mr. Prime Minister Fiala, I like him as a politician who tries to average the bag of fleas referred to as the coalition of 5. However I do not assume he is fairly succeeding.’
You already know that within the present public discourse it ought to be mentioned that it’s crucial for the Ukrainians and the Russians to barter on the desk for peace, is {that a} pink rag to a bull?
“For whom? It is positively not a pink rag for me. It’s essential to discover a mediator who has at the very least the minimal belief of each events.”
You might be speaking about China.
“Perhaps about China, possibly about Turkey. That is already a matter of hidden diplomatic negotiations, which ought to put together the peace negotiations. And I might additionally add: let’s not solely discuss peace, let’s discuss a ceasefire as a prelude to peace, as a result of a ceasefire will primarily save hundreds of human lives on either side.”
And do these politicians who put slogans about Ukraine on their billboards need peace, or do they only need folks’s votes?
“Each politician kind of listens to the voice of the folks. There’s nothing fallacious with that. The vast majority of Czech residents need peace in Ukraine. I’m based mostly on the true navy scenario, and in reality all navy analysts have been saying in latest weeks that there’s a hazard of the Ukrainian entrance being breached. I perceive that so long as there was hope that Ukraine would liberate the remaining occupied territories, it was attainable to hope for its general victory. At the moment I’m solely drawing consideration to the danger of Ukrainian defeat, and I’m clearly saying that I might not like this defeat.”
So, in keeping with you, there is no such thing as a longer any hope that Ukraine would truly return to its borders?
“Most likely not within the foreseeable future, even when the fundamental assist is considerably elevated. Ukraine has a scarcity of manpower. French President Macron though he’s contemplating the deployment of NATO troopers, he’s met with resistance, as a result of it could set off an inside political disaster in France for the time being of the loss of life of the primary French soldier on Ukrainian territory, so even such an possibility just isn’t very doubtless. That is why I say that earlier than the Russians could make a major breakthrough, at the very least a truce must be concluded.”
You talked in regards to the so-called finlandization of Ukraine 10 years in the past, now it’s truly clear that after the tip of the warfare it would turn out to be a member of NATO, it would have the standing of a candidate nation for the EU…
“Finlandization (the concept Ukraine shouldn’t be in worldwide societies and preserve shut relations with Russia on the mannequin of Finland throughout the USSR – editor’s observe) just isn’t my authentic concept, it was already promoted by Zbigniew Brzezinski. I do not like to point out off different folks’s feathers. I assumed it was a good suggestion on the time. And a impartial Ukraine wouldn’t have international navy bases on its territory.”
And becoming a member of NATO now?
“It’s a good factor that the alliance doesn’t settle for nations on whose territory the warfare is fought.”
I interpret your phrases to imply that if Ukraine had saved its mouth shut, there wouldn’t have been a warfare there. Which is controversial to say the least.
“In my view, even if Ukraine could be blamed for a lot of issues, for instance glorifying Štěpán Bandera, I might cross it by now, to your shock. I skilled the occupation of 1968, and subsequently I imagine that when an excellent energy invades a neighboring nation, it’s essential to take the facet of that neighboring nation. And that is what I did on the primary day of the Russian invasion. So let’s cease criticizing and assist, together with navy assist.”
It boggles my thoughts why you did not assume like this again in 2014.
“At the moment, it was not an assault on the entire of Ukraine, however the annexation of the traditionally Russian half inhabited by the Russian-speaking inhabitants. I mentioned then that the annexation of Crimea is a executed deal. And since 10 years have handed since then, it may be mentioned that it has been confirmed.”
And do you query the view of a lot of Ukrainians that the warfare didn’t begin 2 years in the past, however already with the annexation of Crimea 10 years in the past?
“Sure, I doubt it.”
Does Ukraine, these useless folks, girls and youngsters, need to be held hostage to politicians’ slogans?
“Ukraine above all deserves peace. Peace with dignity, not capitulation.”
You talked to Robert Fitz about it? As a result of he mentioned issues about Ukraine like he’s Putin falsely demonized that the Union helps mutual slaughter of Slavs and that the warfare was began by the rampage of Ukrainian neo-Nazis…
“Not too long ago, a journalist from MF DNES requested me about it, and I requested him if he ever had an argument along with his spouse. Robert Fic and I are mates, however even in friendship there could be completely different opinions. Anybody who’s even barely concerned with politics is aware of that Robert Fitz and I differ on the difficulty of assist to Ukraine. And I do not see something particular about it. Solely folks with vestiges of totalitarian pondering want that the opinions of all of the debaters coincide.”
And what are Robert Fitz’s genuine views? Are these statements that relativize the battle, typically virtually in favor of Russia? Or does it prevail that he went to barter with the Ukrainian prime minister and satisfied him of his assist?
“For me, the latter is essential. It’s attention-grabbing that the Ukrainian Prime Minister didn’t take into account it essential to cancel this joint assembly due to Robert Fico’s views, thus displaying higher political knowledge than the Czech Prime Minister. Robert Fico expressed assist for Ukraine, each humanitarian and monetary, on the European Council. If he criticizes some elements of Ukrainian politics, that is his opinion.”
Is Slovakia standing at a crossroads when it chooses whether or not to go to the West or to the East? Laws is now being permitted to alter public radio and tv, to place extra elements within the palms of politicians.
“Sending somebody to the West or vice versa to the East is a favourite political rhetoric of those that have run out of different arguments. I all the time say that I need to go north, as a result of my inspiration is the Scandinavian nations. In Slovakia, some individuals are offended that Pellegrini gained the presidential election and never Korčok, by the best way the previous Mečiar’s follower.”
And are you following the combat for the general public media?
“However my God, if a public media, like our Czech TV, for instance, violates the rules of objectivity and stability and is the mouthpiece of presidency politicians, then a change that may result in this stability can be fascinating each right here and in Slovakia.”
When you have been lively in politics now, would you dabble within the Czech Republic, so to talk, till it was balanced in your opinion?
“To date, the scenario is that Czech tv is politicized, that’s merely a reality that you simply can’t deny.”
What do you imply?
“For instance, the truth that even the senate is now purported to ship its supporters to the board of Czech Tv. Which mainly signifies that on this council there can be an amazing majority of supporters for presidency insurance policies.
Nicely, then the Senate can be re-elected and the situations will change. This isn’t an argument.
“The second drawback is the concession charges, that are even going to extend now, as you properly know. Nicely, why? To pay for presidency propaganda? Now we have a lot of kind of profitable personal tv stations that don’t gather any concession charges and make a dwelling from promoting. I might simply enable clever promoting in CT, if it meant that there can be no concessionary charges.”
So right here we might argue forwards and backwards for a very long time. However I am , if CT bothers you a lot and as president you had a little bit of an embargo on it, why did you latterly go there to debate the twenty fifth anniversary of the Czech Republic becoming a member of NATO?
“I didn’t specific any embargo on CT. Are you aware of any?”
I do know you did not need to go to Otázek Václav Moravec, I do know you did not need to reply questions from some journalists.
“Be a little bit constant and take into consideration what you say. This isn’t an embargo towards Czech Tv as such. As for OVM, I did not just like the individual of the moderator, I am not alone. I assumed he was too servile and I did not go on his present. Mr. Takač just isn’t servile, so I noticed no purpose to not go to his present now.”
On the inauguration of Vladimir Putin, the Czech facet had no consultant, the Slovak facet did, it despatched a chargé d’affairs. What’s nearer to you?
“If small and medium-sized nations do not ship their consultant, it would not matter in any respect. These are bigger nations, or superpowers. If I’m accurately knowledgeable, France may have a consultant there and Germany won’t have a consultant there.’
OK, however what’s symbolically nearer to you?
“I believe that it’s crucial to keep up contact even with nations with which you disagree, however then again, I’m not making a scene as a result of there won’t be a Czech consultant at Putin’s inauguration.”
Zeman: Ambassador in Russia wanted
How do you understand the controversy about whether or not the Czech Republic ought to even have an envoy in Russia? Mr. Pivoňka was dismissed and President Pavel thinks that we must always not ship anybody there in his place beneath the present scenario.
“The embassy, the diplomatic workers and, above all, the ambassador, are there to defend Czech nationwide pursuits within the given nation. If they aren’t in that nation, then logically they can’t defend our nationwide pursuits.”
So, in keeping with Miloš Zeman, the ambassador does.
“Once more.”
The final detour to the ebook: the authors point out BIS chief Michal Koudelka as the principle mover in direction of your removing from workplace. Why? What was his motivation? In spite of everything, you have been in workplace for 1.5 years from the tip.
“Once I was president, and it wasn’t simply earlier than I left workplace, I used to be visited by an individual who recognized himself as a colonel of the BIS, he did not point out his title, and knowledgeable me that Mr. Koudelka had ordered wiretapping of each me and people round me. There was no courtroom approval for these wiretaps, so I do not know if that is true.”
Mr. Koudelka denies it.
“I might be stunned if he confirmed it, as a result of it could imply his quick resignation and he’s a really bold individual. I am simply including that I do not assume it is good for any state, together with the Czech Republic, to have an excessive amount of management over the key companies.”
Sure, however that ebook truly talks about using info, nonetheless obtained, to stage a coup d’état. I’m wondering what the motivation was purported to be?
“I do not know, ask the authors. You ask as if I wrote it.”
That ebook is stuffed with info and paperwork that they could not have gotten with out your assist or consent.
“I solely answered just a few inquiries to the authors and didn’t affect them in any respect on write the ebook. Invite them to your Gamers.”
You as soon as declared the Safety Data Service to be scumbags, do you continue to stand behind the most recent Voice of Europe marketing campaign, which, because of the proof supplied by the BIS, has introduced at the very least one German politician to justice?
“Voice of Europe is a very insignificant server or I do not even know what it’s that nobody knew existed till then. Making it a proof of Russian infiltration, whether or not within the Czech or another atmosphere, is solely overestimating this utterly insignificant server. I’ve by no means been contacted by this server in my life, I’ve by no means learn its merchandise. And since I comply with the scene of those servers fairly carefully, a few of that are banned for censorship causes, I can safely say that that is one thing utterly insignificant. And if the key service overestimates the significance of a sure server, as within the case of the ricin case, it sounded the alarm that an agent is coming right here to assassinate a number of Prague politicians, then I’ve purpose to say that the BIS are crooks.”
Mr. Normal Koudelka was promoted from brigadier normal to main normal. How do you understand that?
“That’s the will of the present ruling energy, towards which I’ve no purpose or chance to outline myself in any means.”
Mr. President, how are you doing? And by that I imply financially.
“I had some financial savings that I invested in my home, so I am not paying hire. Because of the state, I’ve an annuity of fifty,000 and 50,000 is for the workplace. Nicely, it follows that I dwell moderately properly with my funds, I’m glad and don’t have any purpose to complain.”
It’s mentioned that Martin Nejedlý pays to your workplace and well being care bills from a non-public firm.
“That is an entire lie. Well being care is roofed by the insurance coverage firm.”
In that full extent?
“Sure, and I’m grateful to VZP for that. So what you are saying is a lie, and I might prefer it if you happen to did not proceed it.’
You can be 80 years outdated this September. I do not need to offend you once I say that a lot of you didn’t count on this life anniversary. Is that some type of victory for you?
“Nicely, it’s actually a victory over loss of life, however such a victory is achieved by every of us at this age actually on daily basis. You might be dramatizing it as a result of you’ve succumbed to the hysteria of the media, in keeping with which I used to be actually within the final marketing campaign. It’s not so.’
How will you have a good time?
“I accepted the supply of an acquaintance and we are going to meet in his atmosphere on September 28 and bear in mind and have a good time. I hope to obtain extra attention-grabbing books.’
Talking of books, recently you say that you simply learn a number of the Bible, now the ebook of Job, the christening of the ebook Conspiracy was within the Archbishop’s Palace. Is not it some sort of coping with the final issues that drives you to Christianity?
“I have been studying the Bible all my life, and the organizers organized the baptism of that ebook. I don’t dwell on ideas of loss of life.’
You are writing your individual memoir, The President’s Lot. When will or not it’s and what’s going to we study?
“I am at present on web page 96, however it is going to be very temporary, so I will cease quickly.”
Will or not it’s some philosophizing about what it is wish to be president, or an outline of occasions?
“Extra like a particular account of occasions.”
You kind on a typewriter, I suppose.
“Sure, however sadly not with all ten like up to now, however mainly with two fingers, as a result of they’re crippled by rheumatism. My spouse purchased me an exerciser the place you squeeze your fingers in a sort of spiral.”
Does it assist?
“No, however I nonetheless do it each evening earlier than mattress out of affection for my spouse and with the hope that it would assist sooner or later.”
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