Czechmated into irrelevance

The Czech Embassy did scramble to put together an event for him to meet some local compatriots in Sydney while opening an art exhibition honouring their first president but this hardly justified the trip.

Especially not that of a sitting head of state.

In the Czech Republic, unlike Austria and Hungary, the President has a considerable role in political affairs. Klaus has the power of veto over legislation and controls appointments to the Supreme Court and Czech National Bank. Alongside the Prime Minister he has oversight over all matters of foreign relations, the use of the military and the granting of amnesty.

With powers like these it is no wonder his Head of Protocol, Jindrich Forejt, described Klaus' treatment by Parliament House security as "incredible" pointing out that "wherever he goes and for whatever reason, he is still the head of state".

So perhaps he should start behaving like one and get back to, you know, some governing.