Petr Pavel: Ex-general beats populist rival in Czech election - BBC

Retired Nato wide Petr Pavel has been elected arsenic the caller president of the Czech Republic, seeing disconnected his populist challenger Andrej Babis.

The 61-year-old took 57.6% of the vote, archetypal results released by the authorities statistic bureau showed.

Mr Babis - who served arsenic premier curate betwixt 2017 and 2021 - conceded decision successful a code to supporters soon aft the results were announced.

The ex-general volition regenerate Milos Zeman, whose 2nd word ends successful March.

The second-round runoff betwixt Mr Babis and Mr Pavel was portrayed arsenic a contention betwixt populist oligarchy and wide democracy.

The elections' results travel an ill-tempered run marred by alleged decease threats and disinformation.

Earlier this week Mr Pavel was forced to instrumentality to Twitter to contradict rumours of his ain death, circulated by a fake website and emails hosted by Russia's Yandex server.

The disinformation was condemned by Mr Babis, who a fewer days agone cancelled each remaining in-person run appearances implicit fears for his idiosyncratic information aft receiving an anonymous decease threat.

Speaking aft the announcement of the results connected Saturday, Mr Pavel said values specified arsenic truth, dignity, respect and humility had won.

"The immense bulk of Czechs stock these values, and it's clip to instrumentality them to the castle and to politics," helium added.

There were thunderous chants of "Pavel na Hrad" (Pavel to the Castle) - a deliberate echo of the chants of "Havel na Hrad" that filled the streets and squares of Czechoslovakia successful November 1989.

Indeed Mr Pavel, a steadfast advocator of Czech rank of Nato and the EU, has often invoked the tone of Vaclav Havel.

And his triumph volition beryllium seen arsenic an affirmation of the country's expanding displacement towards the West.

Mr Pavel has backed keeping the Czech Republic anchored successful the European Union and Nato and has travel retired powerfully successful favour of further subject assistance for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

By contrast, Mr Babis was forced to backtrack earlier this week aft helium suggested that helium would not unrecorded up to the country's obligations to support a chap Nato subordinate if attacked.

"I privation peace, I don't privation war," Mr Babiš said during a televised debate. "In nary concern would I nonstop our children oregon the children of our women to war."

In the Czech Republic, the relation of president is simply a mostly ceremonial but inactive influential post. The presidents take premier ministers and cardinal slope bosses, arsenic good arsenic having a accidental successful overseas policy.