Vaclav Klaus

Vaclav Klaus is the current President of the Czech Republic and co-founder of Civic Democratic Party. He is also a former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. After the second round of the 2008 elections, Klaus was re-elected to a second term as president.

1. First Election
   • Klaus Vaclav: 139 votes
   • Jan Svejnar: 113 votesXinhua: Czech lawmakers fail to elect new president (February 10, 2008)
2. Second Election
   • Klaus Vaclav: 141 votes
   • Jan Svejnar: 111 votesInternational Herald Tribune: Vaclav Klaus re-elected Czech President (February 15, 2008)

Klaus has become infamous in his home country, and throughout Europe, for his blunt style, particularly regarding his criticism of the environmental movement. He regards global warming as a myth and has referred to Al Gore as an "apostle of arrogance."International Herald Tribune: A fiery Czech is poised to be the face of Europe (November 25, 2008) Klaus has been similarly critical of the European Union, which he proposed dissolving as recently as 2005. He will become an important figure in the EU when the presidency of the collective passes to his country, the Czech Republic, in January of 2009.Hurriyet Daily News: Czechs face suspicion as EU presidency nears (November 21, 2008) In a 2008 poll, half of Czech citizens surveyed felt that Klaus' confrontational style harmed the image of their nation abroad.Prague Daily Monitor: Half of Czechs believe Klaus harms Czech Republic's image (November 18, 2008)

• 1941: Born

• 1963: Klaus graduates from the University of Economics,Prague

• 1969: Klaus graduates from Cornell University in the United States

• 1971 - 1986: He holds various positions at the Czechoslovak State Bank

• 1989: Klaus serves as Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic for 3 years

• 1991: Klaus is co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party

• 1992 - 1997: Served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

• 1998 -2002: Serves as Chairman of the of Deputies of the Czech Republic

• 2003: Klaus is elected President of the Czech Republic]

• 2008: Klaus is elected to a second term as President of the Czech Republic