East-west clash as Czechs vote for new president

Czech President Milos Zeman/ AFP PHOTO / Radek Mica

Czech President Milos Zeman appeared Saturday to be heading for a run-off as voting started on day two of a presidential election pitting the pro-Russian incumbent in course of a flock of extra liberal pro-European rivals.

Opinion surveys present the divisive 73-year-old ex-communist, who will be staunchly anti-Muslim and pro-Chinese language language language, important the pack of 9 candidates forward of Jiri Drahos, 68-year-old pro-European former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Though Zeman is in pole place on account of the nation kicks off a remaining day of first-round voting Saturday, the outspoken head of state is unlikely to win an outright majority, with a run-off anticipated on January 26-27.

As he voted in Prague on Friday, Zeman was centered by a bare-breasted lady protester who often known as him "Putin's slut" in a swap consultants talked about may enhance his potentialities judging by an outpouring of sympathy for him on social media.

Headlines like "Assault on Zeman" and "A scandalous incident" had been splashed all via the doorway pages of Czech each single day newspapers on Saturday as voters headed to the poll space for a second day.

The topless anti-Kremlin protester from Ukraine's Femen group was overpowered by bodyguards after which arrested by police.

Safety personnel furthermore wanted to assist a visibly rattled Zeman, who walks with a cane, to go away the room.

Prague voter Martin Sauta talked about he chosen Zeman as he has "perhaps in all probability essentially the most fastened views", whereas his rivals are "completely shapeless".

Nonetheless Prague wine bar proprietor Eva Simova, 53, prompt AFP that she was voting for Drahos: "He seems to be like like an dependable man and what's extra, I am sick and tired of Zeman."

A gift ballot for Czech Tv confirmed Drahos worthwhile a second-round vote with 48.5 p.c assist in course of 44 p.c for Zeman.

A 'polarised' society
Zeman's rhetoric echoes populist-minded jap EU leaders -- notably in Hungary and Poland -- at odds with Brussels over obligatory refugee quotas and varied pointers they see as makes an attempt to restrict nationwide sovereignty.

He's furthermore stridently anti-Muslim, having as shortly as often known as the 2015 migrant disaster "an organised invasion" of Europe and insisted Muslims had been "unimaginable to combine".

The nation of 10.6 million individuals has acquired solely 12 migrants beneath the EU quota system.

Drahos couldn't be extra utterly utterly totally different. A fragile-mannered liberal centrist whom critics have dubbed "wishy-washy", he has often known as for Prague to "play a extra energetic carry out contained in the EU" and has backed the adoption of the euro abroad money.

After voting in Prague on Friday, Drahos talked about the long run president "ought to work contained in the curiosity of the pro-Western orientation of the Czech Republic" in a transparent dig at Zeman.

"The president ought to work to unite society. It is clear that not all individuals can agree, nonetheless the present president would not unite individuals, he divides them," Drahos added.

Unbiased analyst Jiri Pehe talked concerning the vote highlights a "polarised" society.

"It's a battle between... the post-communist a part of society represented by Zeman and the choice half, say, modern, pro-Western, which merely would not need this president any extra," he prompt AFP.

Unite or divide?
Zeman has the backing of embattled billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who talked concerning the incumbent "fights for our nationwide pursuits" nonetheless often known as on him to "unite, not divide" Czechs.

Babis's populist ANO motion gained closing October's common elections with its anti-corruption and anti-euro promoting advertising marketing campaign, nonetheless the Slovak-born tycoon who's going by the use of police expenses over EU funding fraud has didn't woo coalition companions.

Tapped by Zeman for prime minister in December, Babis was pressured to type a minority authorities which seems set to lose a parliamentary confidence vote on January 16.

Pehe talked a few victory for Zeman may "pave the simplest method for a deeper alliance with Andrej Babis, which may finish in a change in some major parameters of liberal democracy contained in the nation."

Nonetheless the state of affairs could change dramatically if Drahos wins.

"Drahos has made it very clear prosecuted man shouldn't be prime minister," Pehe talked about.

Zeman's utterly totally different rivals embody ex-gambler and songwriter Michal Horacek, and former rightwing premier Mirek Topolanek.

The CTK information agency pegged turnout at 40 p.c after day one among voting. Polling stations reopened at 0700 GMT and may shut at 1300.

Shortly after that, preliminary outcomes will degree out which two candidates normally are likely to contest the anticipated run-off.