CZECH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

East-west clash as Czechs vote

PRAGUE: Czech President Milos Zeman appeared yesterday to be heading for a run-off as voters cast their ballots on day two of a presidential election pitting the pro-Russian incumbent against a flock of more liberal pro-European rivals, reports AFP.

Opinion surveys show the divisive 73-year-old ex-communist, who is also staunchly anti-Muslim and pro-China, leading the pack of nine candidates ahead of Jiri Drahos, 68-year-old pro-European former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Although Zeman was in pole position Saturday, the outspoken head of state was unlikely to win an outright majority, with a run-off expected on January 26-27.

And a recent poll for Czech Television showed the tide could yet turn, with a possible win for Drahos with 48.5 percent of votes predicted for the second round against 44 percent for Zeman.

As he voted in Prague on Friday, Zeman was targeted by a bare-breasted anti-Kremlin protester from the Femen movement who called him “Putin’s slut”, referring to Russia’s president.

Ironically, experts say the move might boost Zeman’s chances, judging by an outpouring of sympathy for him on social media.

Headlines like “Attack on Zeman” and “A scandalous incident” were splashed across the front pages of Saturday newspapers. The topless activist from Ukraine’s Femen chapter was overpowered by bodyguards and then arrested by police.

Security personnel also had to help a visibly rattled Zeman, who walks with a cane, to leave the room.

Zeman’s rhetoric echoes populist-minded eastern EU leaders—especially in Hungary and Poland—at odds with Brussels over mandatory refugee quotas and various rules they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty.

He is also stridently anti-Muslim, having once called the 2015 migrant crisis “an organised invasion” of Europe and insisted Muslims were “impossible to integrate”.

 

CZECH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

East-west clash as Czechs vote

PRAGUE: Czech President Milos Zeman appeared yesterday to be heading for a run-off as voters cast their ballots on day two of a presidential election pitting the pro-Russian incumbent against a flock of more liberal pro-European rivals, reports AFP. Opinion surveys show the divisive 73-year-old ex-communist, who is also staunchly anti-Muslim and pro-China, leading the pack of nine candidates ahead of Jiri Drahos, 68-year-old pro-European former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Although Zeman was in pole position Saturday, the outspoken head of state was unlikely to win an outright majority, with a run-off expected on January 26-27. And a recent poll for Czech Television showed the tide could yet turn, with a possible win for Drahos with 48.5 percent of votes predicted for the second round against 44 percent for Zeman. As he voted in Prague on Friday, Zeman was targeted by a bare-breasted anti-Kremlin protester from the Femen movement who called him Putins slut, referring to Russias president. Ironically, experts say the move might boost Zemans chances, judging by an outpouring of sympathy for him on social media. Headlines like Attack on Zeman and A scandalous incident were splashed across the front pages of Saturday newspapers. The topless activist from Ukraines Femen chapter was overpowered by bodyguards and then arrested by police. Security personnel also had to help a visibly rattled Zeman, who walks with a cane, to leave the room. Zemans rhetoric echoes populist-minded eastern EU leadersespecially in Hungary and Polandat odds with Brussels over mandatory refugee quotas and various rules they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He is also stridently anti-Muslim, having once called the 2015 migrant crisis an organised invasion of Europe and insisted Muslims were impossible to integrate.