Czechs head to the polls today for the run-off in the country’s first ever direct elections for president. Until now, the president, including outgoing president Vaclav Klaus, was chosen by members of the two houses of Parliament in a process that was criticized for being too untransparent and prone to backroom deal-making.
With direct elections now instituted, Czechs have had a chance to see each of the candidates in campaign events and on televised debates. Former prime minister Milos Zeman won the first round of voting, but as he failed to win more than 50 percent of the vote, he was joined in the second round by the runner-up: Karel Schwarzenberg. This long-time ally of the late Vaclav Havel, Schwarzenberg appears to be the choice of many young people and he’s ruled the social media scene. However, he’s running neck-and-neck with Zeman, whose social democratic roots put him at opposition with his more liberal-minded opponent. The polls opened Friday morning and will close on Saturday.
