Universities sue president for not naming professors

Charles University and the University of Economics have filed a criminal complaint with the Prague Municipal Court against Czech President Milos Zeman for not appointing three nominated professors, reports CTK.

According to Charles University spokesman Vaclav Hajek, the universities argue that the law on universities does not give the president the right not to sign the appointing decree. The president’s role in the appointing process is only ceremonial, they say. In reaction, Zeman’s spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said the president had serious reasons not to sign the three decrees.

Zeman has insisted on his objections to the appointment of Ivan Ostadal and Jiri Fajt, from Charles University, and Jan Eichler, proposed by the University of Economics. He said previously he considers unacceptable that Fajt as National Gallery director wanted the Komercni banka bank to send a part of its donation as a contribution to his salary, that Eichler worked in the propaganda unit of the military under the communist regime, and that Ostadal allegedly had contacts with the communist secret police service before 1989.
Full report on the Ceské Noviny site