Czech Republic presidential election: Babis and Pavel go to second runoff

Former prime minister Babis and ex-NATO general Pavel are contesting the second round of the Czech presidential election. After most of the constituencies were counted, the two candidates were almost evenly matched on the first ballot.

In the race for the presidency in the Czech Republic, populist former prime minister Andrzej Babis and former NATO general Petr Pavel are in second place. After almost all votes were counted, the two were tied at nearly 35 percent. This emerges from the official data of the Statistical Commission CSU.

To win the first round, one of the candidates must receive more than 50 percent of the vote. The only woman in the race finished third with less than 14 percent: economics professor Danus Nerutova. A total of eight people applied.

Pavel expects a tough election campaign

68 percent of the 8.3 million eligible voters participated. Pavel expects a tough election campaign ahead of the second round on January 27 and 28. The 61-year-old told his campaign team that Babis doesn’t know how to play without mistakes.

Babis positioned himself as an advocate for those affected by high inflation and energy prices. The 68-year-old was one a few days ago Inquiry into EU subsidies absolved was On first reaction, he described his performance as “fantastic”.

Pavel noted his experience as a former head of the NATO military group — also in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Unlike Babis, the former general spoke clearly in favor of further arms supplies to Ukraine.

In the Czech Republic, the President has mainly representative functions, but he is considered an influential opinion leader. He can once refer laws back to Parliament, appoint constitutional judges and is the supreme commander of the armed forces.