Candidates for the Czech presidency debate at Charles University ****************************************************************************************** * Candidates for the Czech presidency debate at Charles University ****************************************************************************************** Six candidates hoping to be elected as Czech president accepted invitations sent by the Re University, the Department of International Relations, the Institute of Political Studies Faculty of Social Sciences and the Prague Security Studies Institute to a debate on the 28 2012.  The debate, held at Charles University, was held to discuss issues regarding nation international politics. The Rector of Charles University, Prof. Václav Hampl, began the discussion with a statemen universities must be apolitical, meaning that universities should neither take a party pol nor allow advertisement for political parties. However, he went on to say that: “The first presidential election in our country is such an important thing that, when I was approache term partner the Prague Security Studies Institute with the suggestion to organize an expe topic, something long discussed at the university, I felt that organizing such a debate wa kind of public service that the university is supposed to guarantee the people”. The quali was monitored by the Department of International Relations. To secure political impartiality, all candidates for the presidency were invited.  The fol were able to come to the Blue Hall at Charles University: Mgr. Jiří Dienstbier Jr., Ing. J Táňa Fischerová, Karel Schwarzenberg, MUDr. Přemysl Sobotka and Ing. Miloš Zeman, CSc. The almost 2.5 hours long discussion had a set format. Each candidate received the same te from the moderators, 4 from students in the auditorium, and the last question was reserved Hampl. The candidates had 45 seconds to answer each question. Originally, it was intended candidates would receive one follow up question, but due to time constraints this was not In the first round of questions the candidates stated their view on national security and They all agreed that the priority of the Czech Republic should be good relations with neig countries and sharing ideas on how to deal with the economic crisis. The second question w political integration, and the participants in the debate touched both on the introduction banking union and on open EU borders. The third question was asked by a student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, who was inter the candidates' view on Czech energy policy.  Táňa Fischerová was strictly against nuclear said she strongly preferred renewable resources. Similarly, Jiří Dienstbier was against nu preferred allowing the current nuclear plants to complete their technological life span, w technologies and renewable resources. Those candidates who disagreed with this view includ who believes that the Czech Republic should use nuclear energy, and that the time has come energy madness”. Jan Fischer shared Zeman's view, and also state his support for the enlar Temelín Power Plant. Přemysl Sobotka stated he cautiously supports nuclear energy, but as he said he knew very well how harmful radiation could be. Karel Schwarzenberg also support nuclear energy over the next twenty years, though only as a necessity. The other questions were on Czech-US relations, the Czech military, boosting the competiti Czech firms on the foreign market, discord between the posts of the president and the prim importance of human rights, and EU policies regarding the indebted nations of Southern Eur The last question was given by Professor Hampl, who was interested to know (as many at Cha are), what criteria would be used by the candidates when awarding state distinctions for s or education. What were the answers of the candidates? Jiří Dienstbier: “The president should reward those outstanding personalities from differe public life. Certainly both scientists and those who dedicate themselves to teaching, and that our society is a cultivated and educated one, have earned such distinction, and they good funding.“ Miloš Zeman: “The president, no matter who is elected in the end, should, with the excepti award only people of middle and older age as you can usually only see any concrete work be 60 years of age, no matter if they are scientists or anything else. Should Baťa not have h degree, I would still prefer to award him instead of a person with university education an achievements. Karel Schwarzenberg: “I do not believe that only an old person should receive an award; yo able to achieve results, heroes are sometimes young. Any Czech scientist would however pre any medal.“ Táňa Fischerová: “It is always a joy if society has enough people who can be acknowledged expert knowledge as well as their moral character, as such a distinction is not just an aw individual but also a hallmark for society as to whom we should appreciate and view as an not agree that an award should be given only for the scientific achievements, or simultane morality of the awarded person. I would personally prefer that the award would be given fo Přemysl Sobotka: “To award distinctions is one of the better duties of the president, and both post-revolutionary presidents exercised this right well. We have behind us the histor and third resistance, with a number of scientists, sportsmen, artists, etc.  I would follo matter the age of the awardees.“