Czechs have started voting for a new president, with populist billionaire Andrej Babis leading a field of eight candidates in a two-day election to succeed Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial post.
Babis, a former prime minister, was recently acquitted in a fraud trial, which boosted his chances of winning in the first round of the presidential election in voting on Friday and Saturday.
If no candidate achieves a majority, as polls have indicated, the top two finishers will face each other in a runoff in two weeks’ time.
A court in Prague acquitted Babis, 68, on Monday of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving EU subsidies. The prosecution still can appeal. Babis had pleaded not guilty and repeatedly said the charges against him were politically motivated.
Despite a number of scandals, his popular support remains strong, particularly among his base, older voters.
Retired army Gen. Petr Pavel, 61, a former chairman of NATO’s military committee, and former university rector and economist Danuse Nerudova, 44, are Babis’ main challengers.
The two political newcomers fully endorsed the country’s military and humanitarian support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia and see the Czech Republic’s future linked to membership in the EU and NATO.
Polls indicate that none of the remaining candidates is likely to make the runoff.
They include a former diplomat and adviser to former president Vaclav Havel, Pavel Fischer, and Jaroslav Basta, a lawmaker for the country’s major anti-migrant force, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party.
Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote. His second and final five-year term expires in March.
The previous two presidents, Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by lawmakers.
