The Czechs go to the polls on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 January to put an end, in general opinion, to the Milos Zeman era. The outgoing president, an old veteran of Czech politics in power since 2013, has long been in favor of a rapprochement with China and Russia, before changing his mind ahead of the war in Ukraine. Ten years and two consecutive terms later, the leader in failing health will give way to one of the eight candidates in the first round.
The former prime minister, billionaire Andrej Babis, defeated in the 2021 legislative elections, has his favors. Even if he enjoys a slight advantage, the latter is neck and neck in the polls with two newcomers: General Petr Pavel, former chief of staff of the country and ex-president of the Military Committee of the NATO, now retired, and Danuse Nerudova, economist and former rector of Mandel University in Brno. One or the other could deprive him of the first place, or even both, thus eliminating the populist candidate.
But Andrej Babis, acquitted on January 9 at first instance in Prague of charges of fraud on European funds, did not say his last death. With a new virginity – and his meeting, Tuesday, January 10, with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée – this Slovak origin had traveled extensively in the Czech Republic this summer before announcing his presidential candidacy late. Fifth richest in the country in the ranking of Forbeshe remains an extremely divisive character, and if he wins in the first round, the opinion polls announce him losing in the second round scheduled for January 27 and 28.
“This is the first time that three candidates have equal chances of winning in the first round. The difference is in the order of the statistical error”, summarizes Petr Just, political analyst at the Metropolitan University of Prague (MUP). Another novelty: a female candidate, devoid of partisan support, has a real chance of qualifying for the second round.
Inflation of 15.8%
The campaign, rhythmic, will not have fascinated the crowds so far, with the exception of the many televised debates which have been very followed. More than 1.5 million Czechs watched the debate on Sunday January 8, snubbed by Andrej Babis. “He knowingly played absent, he only showed up for one debate. This allows the candidates present to attack each other.emphasizes Petr Kratochvil, researcher at the Institute of International Relations in Prague.
You have 55.32% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.