Petr Pavel Takes Office As Czech President - Reports

Muhammad Irfan Published March 09, 2023 | 08:51 PM

Czech President elect Petr Pavel took the oath of office at a meeting of both chambers of the country's parliament and assumed his duties as president of the Czech Republic, an official statement by Prague Castle said on Thursday

PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th March, 2023) Czech President elect Petr Pavel took the oath of office at a meeting of both chambers of the country's parliament and assumed his duties as president of the Czech Republic, an official statement by Prague Castle said on Thursday.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle and was broadcast live by Czech Television. The Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle is the traditional venue for the inauguration of the country's presidents. In medieval times, it was the largest hall used for secular celebrations and entertainment.

The ceremony was attended by about 800 guests, including the members of both parliament chambers, representatives of the government, excellencies and both ex-presidents of the Czech Republic.

On Friday, Pavel will proceed with the current agenda, among other things, he will appoint a new minister of the environment. On Monday, the president will embark on his first foreign visit, to Slovakia.

The presidential powers of Pavel's predecessor, Milos Zeman, expired at midnight on Thursday. Petr Pavel became the fourth president of the independent Czech Republic after Vaclav Havel, Vaclav Klaus and Milos Zeman.

Pavel was chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 2015 to 2018 and also served as chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces from 2012 to 2015.

On January 28, he defeated his rival, Dollar billionaire and former prime minister Andrej Babis, in the second round of the presidential election with a record margin of almost 17% of the votes.