Vaclav Klaus is a Czech politician and economist who served as the President of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013. He was a key figure in the country's transition from communism to a market economy after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Klaus is known for his strong advocacy of free-market policies and his skepticism towards climate change. Before his presidency, Klaus was the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1992 to 1997 and played a significant role in the country's economic reforms. He co-founded the Civic Democratic Party and has been a prominent voice in European politics, often criticizing the European Union's influence on national sovereignty.