Got a pen for Vaclav Klaus?

The above video of Czech President Vaclav Klaus pocketing a ceremonial pen during a treaty signing with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has gone viral in a big way in recent days. It’s not so much the fact that he took the semiprecious stone-encrusted pen — it’s customary for leaders to keep them after signings — ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

The above video of Czech President Vaclav Klaus pocketing a ceremonial pen during a treaty signing with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has gone viral in a big way in recent days. It's not so much the fact that he took the semiprecious stone-encrusted pen -- it's customary for leaders to keep them after signings -- it's the extra sketchy way he slips it into his pocket like he hopes no one will notice and his little self-satisfied smile after he does it.

The above video of Czech President Vaclav Klaus pocketing a ceremonial pen during a treaty signing with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has gone viral in a big way in recent days. It’s not so much the fact that he took the semiprecious stone-encrusted pen — it’s customary for leaders to keep them after signings — it’s the extra sketchy way he slips it into his pocket like he hopes no one will notice and his little self-satisfied smile after he does it.

Now, some 5,000 Czechs have signed up for a Facebook campaign to mail Klaus writing implements:

Campaign participants are being asked to send to the presidential office pens, pencils or other writing means on May 2 because "Mr. president obviously has nothing to write with."

Jiri Pehe wrote about Klaus — an outspoken Euroskeptic and global warming denier — back in 2009.

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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