Czechs are currently in the midst of a presidential election, with the second round taking place today and tomorrow. The two candidates in the final round are former senior military and NATO official Petr Pavel and ex-PM Andrej Babis (ANO). Pavel won the first round by a small margin and is considered the favorite for the second round according to opinion polls, bookmakers’ odds, and media assessments of the pre-election debates.

The campaign has been described as a battle of two cultures, with outgoing President Milos Zeman describing it as a kind of civil war. Pavel is considered the favorite because he has managed to attract crowds of supporters and has the support of representatives of the five-party governing coalition. Zeman endorsed Babis immediately after the first round, while the Communist Party and far-right Trikolora have also endorsed Babis.

The results of the election will be known on Saturday and the new president will assume the post by taking the presidential oath before the Senate chairman at a joint session of both houses of parliament.
Article by Prague Forum