01/13/2023 21:30 (act. 01/13/2023 21:30)
Former Prime Minister Andrei Babis ©APA/AFP
The two-day presidential election in the Czech Republic ends on Saturday. Citizens of the EU and NATO member states can vote until 2 pm. Three favorites are fighting to enter the likely second round: former NATO general Petr Pavel, billionaire and populist former prime minister Andrej Babis and economics professor Danuse Nerudova. In polls, everyone was nearly equal around the 25% mark.
Five outside candidates also contested the favor of approximately 8.3 million voters. Important issues of the campaign were the high price increase and the attitude towards the war in Ukraine. The result is expected in the late afternoon. Extrapolations or predictions are not published.
The President has predominantly representative functions, but is considered an important opinion maker in the Czech Republic. He also appoints constitutional judges, can refer laws to parliament once, and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.