Czech President Milos Zeman joked about shooting the country’s prime minister with a Kalashnikov rifle Monday, if the democratic process isn’t enough to stop him from pushing his immigration-friendly platform.
The Czech Republic has been reluctant to take in Syrian refugees during the ongoing migration crisis in Europe, but Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has called for the country to help the other European countries out. Zeman firmly opposes his position, and was asked how he thinks anti-immigration advocates should tackle Sobotka’s policies during a debate Monday.
“If you want to get rid of any politician, including the president, there is only one democratic way and that is a free election, which will take place in a year,” Zeman said. “And then there is an undemocratic path that is called ‘Kalashnikov.'”
Zeman enjoys full immunity from prosecution as the head of state under articles 54 (3) and 65 (3) of the Czech constitution. He would not face any criminal penalties if he decided to shoot Sobotka with a Kalashnikov.
Zeman’s words were taken by many as a joke in bad taste, including Sobotka. “We are probably the only country in the civilized world where the president publicly calls for killing the prime minister,” he responded on Twitter.
Sobotka added that his family is now scared that the president will follow through on his words. “I can deal with it myself, but I’m upset by the fact that Zeman has scared my children, the whole family and friends,” he said.
While most politicians took Sobotka’s side and condemned the president’s remarks, others joked about how the assassination would go down, with memes and pictures on social media.
Pavel Svoboda, a member of parliament from the Christian Democrats, tweeted a picture of Sylvester Stalone holding a Kalashnikov in one of the “Rambo” movies with the caption: “Will the president be able to hold the Kalashnikov himself, or will he hire someone to do it?”
About 60 percent of Czechs oppose any immigration from outside the EU, according to a survey from the Czech Academy of Science.
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