New Czech President inaugurated in capital Prague

(9 Mar 2023)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague - 9 March 2023
1. Various of Czech President Petr Pavel arriving at Prague Castle
2. Close of camera operator
3. Wide of Czech flag
4. Pavel entering UPSOUND applause
5. Flag of President of the Czech Republic
6. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Pavel, Czech President:
"I pledged to help bring back dignity, respect, decency, and other values that had been losing importance in recent years to the leadership of our country. (It was) as if we were resigned to them as a result of the fact that the main criterion of judging both our actions and personalities became success no matter what cost and at the expense of whom it was achieved. Unfortunately, the top leaders of the state also emphasized this to us. The opportunity was thus given by populists, who achieve their own success and influence through lies, manipulation, and abuse of fear. I and my team never approached this game."
7. Close of camera
8. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Petr Pavel, Czech President:
"In foreign policy, therefore, we can be a distinct player connecting partners of similar size and thinking. There is a majority of such in Europe. Let's learn to enjoy this position. We don't have to go far for inspiration. Ukraine has shown us and our partners that unbreakable determination is greater than the strength of the aggressor. It is a unified Central European voice that will be important. We should help Ukraine to victory. And it's not just our historical experience that should be a reason for us to continue to support it. In the end, we help ourselves. I would like the Czech Republic to be seen beyond our borders as an active and reliable partner with its own views, who can influence things for the better."
9. Mid of photographer
10. Pavel walking to seat UPSOUND applause
11. Wide of ceremony
STORYLINE:
A retired army general and former senior NATO official was sworn in Thursday as the Czech Republic's new president, succeeding Milos Zeman.
Petr Pavel took the formal oath during a joint session of both houses of Parliament at Prague Castle, the seat of the presidency.
He was elected to the largely ceremonial but prestigious post in a runoff vote on January 28, beating populist billionaire Andrej Babis.
Pavel, 61, ran as an independent in the election and is a former chairman of NATO’s military committee, the alliance’s highest military body.
His election is expected to cement the country’s Western orientation.
His predecessor Zeman divided the nation with his pro-Russian stance and support for closer ties with China.
Pavel fully endorsed the Czech Republic’s military and humanitarian support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion and stressed the importance of the country’s European Union and NATO membership.
The president picks the prime minister after a general election, appoints top officials at the central bank, and also selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament’s upper house.
Otherwise, the head of state has little executive power since the country is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister.
Following the inauguration, Pavel is planning next week to go on his first foreign trip to neighboring Slovakia, which formed Czechoslovakia with his country till a peaceful split in 1993.
Kyiv and Warsaw are among other foreign capitals he’s set to visit in the near future.
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