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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.
Gratuluji @JoeBiden k převzetí úřadu prezidenta Spojených států amerických! Těším se, že budeme dále rozvíjet česko-americké strategické partnerství, spolupráci v rámci @nato i upevňovat vztahy mezi EU a USA. Přeji hodně štěstí a síly do budoucna.
— Andrej Babiš (@AndrejBabis) January 20, 2021
“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.
We congratulate US 🇺🇸 president @JoeBiden 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.
— Jiří Ovčáček (@PREZIDENTmluvci) January 20, 2021
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.
Congratulations President @JoeBiden! 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 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇿, and the whole 🇪🇺.
— Tomáš Petříček (@TPetricek) January 20, 2021
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.
Blahopřeji novému prezidentovi USA @JoeBiden. Věřím, že se nová americká administrativa soustředí na to, co Ameriku s Evropou a Českou republikou spojuje, ať už v oblasti obchodu, bezpečnosti nebo ochrany klimatu.
— Jan Hamáček (@jhamacek) January 20, 2021
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.
Přeji @JoeBiden hodně úspěchů při jeho velkém návratu do Bílého domu. Jsem přesvědčena, že dobré vztahy mezi ČR a USA budou za jeho vlády pokračovat a že se mu podaří provést svou zemi tímto nelehkým obdobím.
— Alena Schillerová (@alenaschillerov) January 20, 2021
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.
Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on assuming office today. We look forward to working with the administration on further strengthening US-Czech alliance & friendship, cooperating on issues of mutual interest and advancing shared values. 🇺🇸🇨🇿
— Hynek Kmoníček (@hynekkmonicek) January 20, 2021
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.
