Karel Schwarzenberg

Karel Schwarzenberg, born on December tenth, nineteen thirty-seven, is a distinguished Czech politician, diplomat, and statesman. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic during two separate terms, first from two thousand seven to two thousand nine, and then again from two thousand ten to two thousand thirteen. A prominent figure in Czech politics, he co-founded the TOP 09 party and was its candidate for the presidency in the two thousand thirteen election, where he finished as the runner-up with forty-five point nineteen percent of the votes.

Schwarzenberg's political career is marked by his tenure as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from two thousand ten to two thousand twenty-one and as a Senator for Prague six from two thousand four to two thousand ten. His early political involvement included serving as the chancellor to Václav Havel from July nineteen ninety to July nineteen ninety-two, during Havel's presidency. Initially a non-partisan minister nominated by the Green Party, he later became a key member of the pro-European centre-right TOP 09 party, where he gained significant support in the two thousand ten parliamentary elections.

Born into the House of Schwarzenberg, a prominent family of the Habsburg empire, Karel was related to Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg. He spent a significant part of his life in Austria, where he was known as Karl Schwarzenberg and was active in politics with the Austrian People's Party. A vocal critic of human rights violations in the Eastern Bloc, he chaired the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Following the fall of communism, he returned to Prague as a close adviser to Václav Havel, marking a significant return to his homeland.

In his personal life, Schwarzenberg was married to Countess Therese von Hardegg, and together they had three children, all of whom reside in Austria. His legacy is characterized by his pro-European views and his commitment to human rights, making him a respected figure in both Czech and European politics.