Czech politicians congratulate U.S. President Biden, look forward to better relations

Hope for a better future and stronger bilateral ties was a common theme in tweets from Czech leaders.

Raymond Johnston

Written by Raymond Johnston Published on 21.01.2021 09:57:00 (updated on 21.01.2021) Reading time: 2 minutes

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and President Miloš Zeman congratulated Joe Biden, who was formally sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in a star-studded ceremony in Washington D.C. It was held without a public audience due to the coronavirus.

Babiš and Zeman both said they looked forward to strengthening ties between the two countries.

“Congratulations to Joe Biden on taking office as the 46th president of the United States!” Babiš said on Twitter. "I am looking forward to further development of the Czech-American strategic partnership, as well as collaboration within NATO and EU-US cooperation," he said.

“We congratulate U.S. president Joe Biden on assuming office. We wish him success in solving all complex challenges of the present world and finding a broad social consensus. We believe that the Czech Republic and the USA will further foster friendship and alliance," Zeman's spokesman Jiří Ovčáček tweeted.

Other Czech politicians were also optimistic.

“Congratulations President Joe Biden! I look forward to working closely with your administration to advance our shared values and interests, and help tackle global challenges. I'll work to make our alliance and partnership stronger than ever, between the United States and the Czech Republic, and the whole European Union," Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said.

Petříček told the Czech News Agency (ČTK) that Biden's inaugural address was a hand offered to those who did not vote for him. “As expected, President Biden launched the effort to unite the apparently divided American society,” he said.

He added that the new president will try to heal the United States, change the populist image and return to international cooperation that guarantees also Czech security and prosperity. “The address also wanted to confirm the strength of American democracy and of the values on which it is based,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jan Hamáček congratulated Biden and added his hopes for the future.

“I believe that the new US administration will focus on what connects America with Europe and the Czech Republic, be it in the sphere of trade, security or climate protection,” he tweeted.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alena Schillerová expressed her hopes as well. “I wish Joe Biden every success on his big return to the White House. I am convinced that good relations between the Czech Republic and the USA will continue during his reign and that he will be able to guide his country through this difficult period,” she said.

Czech Ambassador in the United States Hynek Kmoníček was the only one to mention Vice President Kamala Harris in his tweet.

“Congratulations Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on assuming office today. We look forward to working with the administration on further strengthening US-Czech alliance and friendship, cooperating on issues of mutual interest and advancing shared values,” he said.

The inauguration of Biden took place shortly before 6 p.m. CET. Kamala Harris assumed the office of vice president, the first woman in American history to occupy the post. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks were among the singers to perform. Youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman read a poem.

Outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony, but his vice president, Mike Pence, did. All the living former presidents except Jimmy Carter also attended. Carter sent a message of support.

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