And do you really want to know, especially over lunch?



The young Zeman

I did not. Nor, I imagine, did Count Constantin Kinsky, the president of the French chamber of commerce in Prague.

The Czech head of state was guest speaker at a recent luncheon held by the chamber and hosted by the French ambassador. To open the discussion, Zeman was asked by the count to share his best memories of France with the assembled business men and women. He replied as follows:


"Your name, Mr Kinsky, brings back happy memories for me. You see, I lost my virginity in Konstantinovy Lazne."

So now you know, whether you wanted to or not.

This tasteless mockery reminds me of Vaclav Klaus, who as prime minister was asked if he thought there was a special relationship between Austria and the Czech Republic. He replied that the relationship was no more special than that between the Czech Republic and Madagascar. He was seated beside the Austrian chancellor at the time.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.