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Czech election: Billionaire Andrej Babis poised to win | Czech election: Billionaire Andrej Babis poised to win |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Czechs are voting in a two-day general election in which the favourite is a populist billionaire who has campaigned on an anti-establishment platform. | Czechs are voting in a two-day general election in which the favourite is a populist billionaire who has campaigned on an anti-establishment platform. |
Andrej Babis, 63, is estimated to be worth $4 billion (£3bn) making him the country's second richest man. | Andrej Babis, 63, is estimated to be worth $4 billion (£3bn) making him the country's second richest man. |
His centrist ANO (Yes) party has a wide lead in the polls but is not expected to secure a majority. | His centrist ANO (Yes) party has a wide lead in the polls but is not expected to secure a majority. |
Its current coalition partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (CSSD), is polling in second place. | Its current coalition partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (CSSD), is polling in second place. |
Polls opened at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and close at 22:00 (20:00 GMT). They will open again on Saturday morning and close in the afternoon. | |
Andrej Babis's party, which has campaigned on an anti-establishment, anti-EU and anti-corruption basis, is predicted to win the biggest share of the vote. | |
Far-right and far-left parties are also predicted to make gains. | Far-right and far-left parties are also predicted to make gains. |
This will put Mr Babis, who has faced numerous scandals including a fraud indictment and accusations he was a communist-era police agent, in pole position to become prime minister as part of a coalition. | This will put Mr Babis, who has faced numerous scandals including a fraud indictment and accusations he was a communist-era police agent, in pole position to become prime minister as part of a coalition. |
If his party secures a majority, it is not known who Mr Babis will seek to form a government with. | If his party secures a majority, it is not known who Mr Babis will seek to form a government with. |
Currently, Social Democrat Bohuslav Sobotka heads a coalition formed after a 2013 snap election. This was triggered by the fall of the centre-right government of Petr Necas over a spying, sex and bribery scandal earlier in the year. | Currently, Social Democrat Bohuslav Sobotka heads a coalition formed after a 2013 snap election. This was triggered by the fall of the centre-right government of Petr Necas over a spying, sex and bribery scandal earlier in the year. |
In May, Mr Sobotka submitted his government's resignation because of a disagreement with Andrej Babis, who was serving as finance minister at the time. | In May, Mr Sobotka submitted his government's resignation because of a disagreement with Andrej Babis, who was serving as finance minister at the time. |
He was unhappy about alleged unexplained business dealings involving Mr Babis. | He was unhappy about alleged unexplained business dealings involving Mr Babis. |
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