Runoff election for the head of state in the Czech Republic

The two-day run-off election for the presidency in the NATO and EU state has begun in the Czech Republic. The former army general Petr Pavel, who leads the polls, meets the populist ex-Prime Minister Andrei Babis. More than eight million citizens can cast their votes in almost 15,000 polling stations. A result is expected shortly after the end of the election, i.e. this Saturday evening.

The dominant topic between the opponents was the Russian war against Ukraine. The billionaire Babis tried to portray his opponent as a warmonger. “I am for peace,” he said in a recent radio debate this Friday. Pavel, who is considered pro-Western, currently sees no basis for an understanding with Moscow: “We shouldn’t fool our citizens that we live in a world full of harmony.”

stalemate two weeks ago

In the first ballot two weeks ago, both candidates were almost equal, each with around 35 percent of the votes cast. According to opinion polls, Pavel could extend his narrow lead this time. The 61-year-old former paratrooper headed NATO’s military committee from 2015 to 2018. He advertises “restoring order”.

In the Czech Republic, the President has predominantly representative tasks. But he also appoints the government and is the supreme commander of the armed forces. Incumbent Milos Zeman is stepping down from his post in early March after ten years.

jj/uh (dpa, afp)