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Czech election: Zeman beats Drahos to win second term Czech election: Zeman beats Drahos to win second term
(35 minutes later)
Czech President Milos Zeman has won a second five-year term in office following a tight run-off vote against rival Jiri Drahos. Czech President Milos Zeman has won a second term in office following a tight run-off vote against rival Jiri Drahos.
Mr Zeman, a pro-Russia and strident opponent of immigration, took 52% of the vote, narrowly beating Mr Drahos, a pro-EU academic with no prior political experience, Czech television reports. Mr Zeman, who fiercely opposes immigration and objects to EU sanctions against Russia, took 52% of the vote to beat Mr Drahos, a pro-EU academic with no prior political experience.
Saturday's ballot was the second round for the presidential candidates. Voter turnout on Saturday was over 66%.
In the first round, Mr Zeman had 38.6% of the vote while Mr Drahos won 26.6%. The role of the Czech president is influential; Mr Zeman can name the prime minister and sign bills passed by parliament into law.
Casting his vote on Friday, Mr Zeman said Mr Drahos lacked experience. He has promised to give Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire businessman, a second chance to form a government after his minority cabinet lost a confidence vote in parliament last week.
"My opponent is someone who has not yet practised politics," he said.
Meanwhile Mr Drahos thanked his supporters, saying their "energy will not be thwarted, whatever the outcome", AFP news agency reported.
The election has reflected divisions between low-income voters with lower education and those living in rural areas, who tend to vote for Mr Zeman, and wealthier and well-educated residents of bigger cities, who are likely to prefer Mr Drahos, correspondents say.
The post of president is largely ceremonial but hugely influential. It picks, for instance, which politician can form a government.
Mr Zeman has promised to give Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire businessman, a second chance to form a government after his minority cabinet lost a confidence vote in parliament last week.
Mr Zeman's current presidency does not end until March, so he plans to reappoint Mr Babis next month.Mr Zeman's current presidency does not end until March, so he plans to reappoint Mr Babis next month.
Who's who in Czech run-off? His position also allows him to appoint central bank board members and judges.
The presidential election has reflected divisions between low-income voters with lower education and those living in rural areas, who tend to vote for Mr Zeman, and wealthier and well-educated residents of bigger cities, who are likely to prefer Mr Drahos, correspondents say.
Mr Drahos has never belonged to any political party but he told the BBC that he wanted to "end the climate of populism and fear in Czech society" that has marked Mr Zeman's presidency.
In contrast to Mr Zeman, the 68-year-old Mr Drahos is a supporter of EU and Nato membership, however he opposes the EU's quota system for distributing migrants.
Who is Milos Zeman?
Milos Zeman, 73Milos Zeman, 73
Jiri Drahos, 68