Czech President Vaclav Klaus steals expensive pen from poor, quake-stricken Chile

Wow! Be careful. If you have this guy over for dinner, don't use the good silver.

Watch his right hand in this hilarious video.

He's Vaclav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic. He's actually in front of a large news conference in Chile with that country's leader, Sebastian Pinera. Remember, Pinera and his wife hosted President Obama and his family during their recent South American tour?

In this video, despite Klaus' grumpy looks, the two men are celebrating the signing of a new transport agreement by their respective foreign ministers. It's pretty amazing. While Pinera goes on in Spanish about their bilateral friendship, Klaus takes the ceremonial pen from the box.

He admires it. Turns it over. Slips it into his hand. Drops his hands beneath the table. Switches the pen to his left hand and drops the pen into his pocket. Before putting both hands back on the table as blithely and innocently as you please. Then, he resumes intently listening to the translation through his earpiece.

Who could possibly notice this gambit except perhaps a couple of hundred people and dozens of rolling cameras staring at the diplomatic duo on the platform?

Back home Klaus' aides are explaining to an inquiring nation today that keeping such ceremonial pens is a Czech tradition. True enough, President Klaus does not attempt to wipe any fingerprints off the box.

But if it's an accepted tradition, why did the Czech president act so surreptitiously, like a shoplifter, complete with eye fakes?

Why not upon leaving just take the whole pen and box? Instead of carefully closing the box, without looking, to hide its glaring new emptiness?

What do you think? Is this presidential pol a pen pilferer? Does this mean war?

 

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[GMK]

I thought that both sides would each get a pen as a souvenir. What else are they going to do with them? When the president signs a bill, they are given as gifts.

[Joan]

I don't think the Czech President stole the pen. It was a reflex reaction. He wasn't aware that they're already on broadcast. He was kinda fiddling with the pen, (usual reaction if you're waiting to get busy.) So when the Chilean President started to talk, he was startled and made aware of himself that he's already on national tv, so he fixed himself. And what he did is a normal reaction, that he has to keep anything on hand to focus on what is going on. On the Czech President's part, what he did is to pocket the pen, instead of putting it back on the case. That's the normal reaction when you know u own the pen. If what you're holding on is not yours, you gonna put it back to where it belongs when u are startled, afraid to be caught. The Czech President's reaction was very normal as he knows pens are giveaways. When you attend conventions, they do give free pens. LOL!

[Jan Prague]

All Vaclav Klaus is able to do is criticizing, protecting corruption and stealing. He is an old KGB man. During the Communism he has betrayed his own people for the Soviets and now he became with the help of the Communists President. This man is a shame for every honest Czech citizen.

[Alan Dean Foster]

Czechmated.

[Gary Kalar]

Oh my god, he's a pen thief! Pen thief! O, what a horrid man. Burn him, burn him! Can't get the LA Times to report on how GE steals millions from the US, or how Boeing steals millions from the US, or how the US has stolen trillions from South America, including Chile, but a pen! Not a fancy pen!

[Archi]

The speech started at the time 0:18, thats exactly the time when our president "panicked" because he wasnt in "cool" possition (he likes to look seriously). And this video is just the result:-)

[Diogenes]

Why should we be surprised? This confirms the postulate that all politicians are corrupt. The Czech President is no different from your local councilman, state senator, assemblyman, alderman or other elected official. Nor is he different from your typical ambulance chasing attorney, tax cheat, disability cheat, plaintiff, welfare recipient, steroid using sports star or any other American or illegal immigrant that tries to get ahead by scamming the system. Corruption, theft, public malfeasance are all part of the system overseas and here in America. If you wan't real change start by voting against your incumbent elected officials on the next election day.

[mb]

the pen was a gift to him, wasn't it? that's why it was on his desk, in a gift case.
of course he put it in his pocket.

[Horo]

I saw the vid on Youtube.
It was so embarassing and his behavior was so unbecoming of a head of state that I wonder what got into him.
Maybe he was awe-struck by the beauty of the pen that he was reverted back to his deprived childhood?

[bstone]

It doesn't look like he did anything wrong to me.

[Servillex]

haha, a few funny things:
1. A delighted expression on Klaus' face after he put the pen into his pocket
2. Funny manner in which Chilean president talks.
3. The colors of the national flags are the same (btw, Pinera actually stresses this fact, saying in Spanish)
The pens are clearly souvenirs and this is not a theft, but the video makes one's laugh, and Klaus is in the world top-news again) Last time Klaus was so widely publicized when he refused to sign the EU Lisbon Treaty a couple of years ago..)

[Gollum]

Is this guy the Czech president or Smeagol?...'Come here my precious'

[Vlasta]

Paola Elbieto from the press department of the Chile president palace La Moneda said that the pen decorated with engraving was made of gemstone lapis lazuli, which is typical for its bright blue colour. It was not an ordinary pen but an artistic unique one.

It was an example how was done the privatization in the Czech Republic.

[Dave]

"The spokeswoman for Piñera said the Chilean president's guests were free to take the pens."

Case closed, period.

[Alex]

Yes, pens can be given as a gift, but in more formal way. Klaus is pocketing the pen like a selfish kid. I sent him a pen for his collection today (Made in China, no precious stones). The note glued to the pen wasn't nice either.

[Krystof Lisacky - Czech Republic]

Klaus is slime, pure slime.

[Ani]

but he's just a pen thief ..... there are a lot of other thief's in all country disguising as politicians and looting millions :)

[Tomas]

First of all - SORRY !!!
Yes - sure - it means WAR here in Czech republic inside.
War against president Klaus i hope .
For many people this was the just latest detail which starts the war against Klaus .
Latest and small detail i conparation what of realy ugly things he has doneduring 20 years.
It is like with AlCapone - the police and justice cannot catch him for many years for realy unbelivable things, murders etc, BUT finaly they stoped him because just a small tax offense.
I am terribel sorry, that this sefisj idiot did this !!!
This is a shame for all of czech people, but nuch biger shame will be, when we NOW do not kick him out of his presidency, out of political life, ...etc
We need your help - just if you can write about whats gos on in our country.

Thank You L.A. Times
Tomas

[Jeymo]

This President fits to be a comedian. Hahahahahahahahahahah

[Pavel]

He was always arrogant, vain and purse-proud. He only openly unfolded himself. Notice his facial expression. Just toad!!!

Pavel from Czech Rep.

[Henchkul]

You need a better informed headline writer. Chile is a member of OECD and is the most economically prosperous and politically stable country in South America. It is far from "poor" by any account, including standard measures set by the UN, World Bank, IMF and those of the US goverment.

[Jitka, Prague]

I´m sorry, but this is not a theft... It is cut from a context... You can´t know how it was after the boadcast... And Klaus was preparing for it, that´s why he did what he did, maybe it wasn´t the best what he could do, but it wasn´t wrong. And you don´t know what it is to be seen by everyone...

[musisi silvester]

I think the president is fixated. It happens to many people. They would lift simple things that even have no value for they have no use or whose values are even worthless. Some even steal just to give others and not for their own personal use. So, he is a lifter not a thief.