The first round of presidential voting in the Czech Republic has taken place and the favorite candidate, according to early results, is the country’s former Prime Minister, Andrej Babis. Babis, who is the leader of the Czech Republic’s largest political party, ANO, received the most votes in the first round of voting and is expected to advance to the second round.

Babis, who is commonly known as the “Czech Trump” due to his populist and anti-establishment views, is a controversial figure in the country. He has been involved in several corruption scandals and has been facing accusations of conflicts of interest. Despite this, he remains popular among Czech voters and has been leading in the polls for the presidential race.

The second round of voting will take place next week, where Babis will face off against the second-place candidate, Jiri Drahos. Drahos is a former president of the Czech Academy of Sciences and is seen as a more traditional and moderate candidate.

The winner of the presidential race will replace the current President, Milos Zeman, who has served in the role since 2013 and is not eligible to run for a second term. The president of the Czech Republic is a largely ceremonial role, but the president does have the power to appoint judges and select a prime minister.

The outcome of this presidential race is being closely watched as it could have significant implications for the country’s political landscape. Babis has already been facing a lot of criticism and this win may only raise more concerns over his leadership.

Article by Prague Forum