Czech President Zeman Takes Oath of Office

Milos Zeman, who won the Czech Republic's presidential election in January, has been officially sworn in for a five-year term.

Zeman took the presidential oath during a joint session of both houses of parliament at the Prague Castle attended also by members of the government, foreign diplomats, and other dignitaries.

Zeman, a former Prime Minister and head of the Social Democrat party, has become Czech Republic's third president and its first to be publicly elected.

In his inaugural speech, President Zeman said he aims to unite the country by acting as a moderator and communicator but not as a judge.

"I have three fundamental goals of this presidency, and the first goal is the calming and stabilization of the Czech political scene. I'm fully aware that without the support of the public this goal is unreachable," he said.