Milos Zeman steps down as president of Czech Republic

Milos Zeman is leaving the post of President of the Czech Republic due to the expiration of his second five-year mandate as head of state.

Zeman served as President of the Czech Republic from March 8, 2013 to March 8, 2023. The politician is 78 years old, TASS reports.

Milos Zeman is the first President of the Czech Republic to be elected in direct and general elections. Prior to this, the head of state was elected at a joint meeting of both houses of the country's parliament. The Czech constitution allows only two presidential mandates, which would prevent Zeman from being re-elected.

On March 9, the inauguration ceremony of the new president, retired army general, ex-head of the NATO military committee Petr Pavel, will be held in Prague Castle.

Pavel is called a supporter of democratic values, a pro-Western course.