East-west clash as Czechs vote for new president
PRAGUE: Czech President Milos Zeman appeared yesterday to be heading for a run-off as voting began on day two of a presidential election pitting the pro-Russian incumbent against a flock of more liberal pro-European rivals.
Opinion surveys show the divisive 73-year-old excommunist, who is also staunchly anti-Muslim and pro-Chinese, leading the pack of nine candidates ahead of Jiri Drahos, 68-year-old pro-European former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Although Zeman is in pole position as the country kicks off a final day of first-round voting yesterday, the outspoken head of state is unlikely to win an outright majority, with a run-off expected on Jan 26-27.
As he voted in Prague on Friday, Zeman was targeted by a bare-breasted woman protester who called him ‘Putin’s slut’ in a move experts said might boost his chances judging by an outpouring of sympathy for him on social media.
Headlines like ‘Attack on Zeman’ and ‘A scandalous incident’ were splashed across the front pages of Czech daily newspapers yesterday as voters headed to the ballot box for a second day.
The topless anti-Kremlin protester from Ukraine’s Femen group was overpowered by bodyguards and then arrested by police.
Security personnel also had to help a visibly rattled Zeman, who walks with a cane, to leave the room.
Prague voter Martin Sauta said he chose Zeman as he has ‘the most consistent views’, while his rivals are ‘completely shapeless’.
But Prague wine bar owner Eva Simova, 53, told AFP that she was voting for Drahos: “He seems like an honest guy and what’s more, I’m sick and tired of Zeman.”
A recent poll for Czech Television showed Drahos winning a second-round vote with 48.5 per cent support against 44 per cent for Zeman. — AFP