Czech president Milos Zeman sparks outrage by swearing during live radio interview
Milos Zeman swore both in English and Czech and hundreds of listeners complained
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A Czech leader is said to have damaged the country's "reputation abroad" as hundreds complained after he spouted a torrent of swear words during a live radio interview on Sunday.
President Milos Zeman is said to have caused embarrassment for Czech Republic as he used the words "f****d up" and "s***" when discussing Russian protest group and punk band Pussy Riot, who were jailed for frequently opposing Vladimir Putin's policies.
He is also reported to have asked the interviewer “you know what p**** means in English?" and when trying to explain it he used a highly-offensive Czech version of the word.
The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, condemned the incident by saying: “The president should not speak in such a way as it damages the reputation of the presidency, sets a bad example and does nothing for our reputation abroad."
The country's state media watchdog reportedly received hundreds of complaints from shocked listeners but Zaman has yet to apologise for the broadcast.
Czech journalist Daniela Lazarova asked political commentator Jiří Pehe whether the president's "increasingly provocative" behaviour was linked to criticism he has received for being in his role.
He replied: "I think that any person – and that person needn’t be a president – can resort to vulgarisms and aggressive language when they know that they are in the wrong.
"And I think that Zeman knows that with regard to his trip to China at least he is on very thin ice, that he should have been more assertive."
However, Zeman's spokesman claimed the president was simply responding to his political opponents "who tolerate such language".
During a visit to Beijing, China, in October he said that Taiwan was part of the country, which goes against the popular stance of many European nations.
He is also reported by Sydney Morning Herald to have said that Jewish people should all be killed by Muslims, before he retracted the statement and apologised after he received backlash.
According to the Telegraph, Czech Radio could face a fine of up to £281,000 if it is found to have put at risk 'the moral development of children' by broadcasting the live interview.
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