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Presidential elections were held in the Czech Republic in January 2023, resulting in the election of Petr Pavel. Incumbent president Miloš Zeman was not eligible to run due to the two-term limit.
The first round took place on 13 and 14 January. Petr Pavel, former chair of the NATO Military Committee, ran as an independent on a pro-Western, pro-European platform,[1] and was one of three candidates backed by the centre-right governing alliance Spolu.[2] He won the first round of the election with 35.40% of the popular vote, ahead of Andrej Babiš, the former Czech prime minister running as the candidate of ANO 2011, who finished second with 34.99%.[3] Babiš had expressed opposition to Czech support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion and was characterised in the media as using populist rhetoric.[4][5] For the runoff, Pavel was backed by most eliminated candidates and by the incumbent prime minister Petr Fiala, while Babiš received an endorsement from the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia[6] and the outgoing president Zeman.[7]
The second round was held on 27 and 28 January. Pavel won the runoff against Babiš with 58.33% of the vote to become the Czech Republic president-elect. He assumed office on 9 March 2023, replacing Zeman.[8][9] Babiš conceded defeat and congratulated Pavel.[10] Voter turnout in the second round was a little above 70%, the highest in a direct Czech presidential election and the highest in any national Czech election since 1998.[11]
The campaign was widely described in the media as divisive. The outcome of the election was viewed as a sign of support for the West in the context of the War in Ukraine,[12] and is expected to strengthen Czech ties with the European Union and the United States.[13]
Background
Before 2020
Initial speculation about the 2023 election began after the first direct presidential election in 2013. Political scientist Ladislav Cabada said that he expected the new president to be younger than Miloš Zeman when he was elected in 2013. Jiří Dienstbier Jr. was often mentioned as a potential left-wing candidate. Cabada mentioned Petr Fiala as a possible right-wing candidate.[14] There was also speculation that ANO 2011 leader Andrej Babiš, who later became Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, might run for president in 2023.[15] At the previous election in January 2018, Zeman was elected for his second and final term.[16] After Zeman's victory in 2018, there was speculation that the next election might be held sooner than 2023 due to Zeman's health.[17][18] Speculation about possible successors to Zeman started soon after the election, with bookmakers considering Václav Klaus Jr. as the favourite.[19] Babiš stated that his party would nominate its own candidate for the next election.[20]
In summer 2019, the leaders of the opposition Civic Democratic Party, Pirate Party, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09 and Mayors and Independents met to discuss a possible common candidate. The most discussed candidate was retired army general Petr Pavel. Other names included Miroslava Němcová and Věra Jourová. The Czech Social Democratic Party was also invited to the meeting but declined as it planned to support Josef Středula, the president of the Bohemian-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions.[21] Speculation about Zeman's health was renewed in October 2019 when Zeman went into hospital and talked about his possible successors, noting Babiš, Josef Středula, and Vladimír Dlouhý.[22][23] Senator Marek Hilšer announced his candidacy on 21 November 2019. He started gathering signatures for his nomination on the same day.[24]
After 2020
Pavel launched an initiative called "Stronger Together" in April 2020, aimed at helping those working in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, especially in crowdfunding financial support for volunteers helping in hospitals or creating medical tools.[25] Political commentators including Petr Holec and Ondřej Leinert suggested that the initiative was a launch of Pavel's presidential bid, noting the similarity with Hillary Clinton's slogan during the 2016 United States presidential election.[26][27] Pavel said in July 2021 that he planned to run for the presidency and was preparing his campaign.[28] Pavel also visited various regions, which was described by journalists including Tereza Šídlová as a campaign activity.[29]
The 2021 legislative election resulted in defeat for ANO 2011 and a majority for the opposition parties in the Chamber of Deputies. This prompted speculation that Babiš might run for the presidency following his defeat in the legislative election.[30][31] Following the election on 10 October, Zeman was hospitalised again, casting doubts over how and when the government formation talks would be held.[32][33] On 11 October, a spokesman for the hospital said that Zeman's condition had stabilised, but he could not yet talk about the prognosis: "The reason for hospitalization are complications from the illnesses for which he has been receiving treatments."[34] Fiala, the leader of the Spolu coalition, stated on 12 October 2021 that the alliance would nominate a candidate.[35]
On 18 October 2021, Miloš Vystrčil, the president of the Senate of the Czech Republic, announced he had received a letter from the Central Military Hospital declaring Zeman unfit to fulfil his duties as the president, and indicated plans to trigger Article 66 of the constitution to temporarily remove Zeman from office.[36] In response, the Senate announced their intention to transfer Zeman's constitutional powers to Babiš and the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondráček, also of ANO 2011.[37] However, he was discharged from hospital on 27 November 2021 and resumed his duties.[38] Babiš stated on 20 November 2021 that he would run for presidency if his supporters gather the required 50,000 signatures.[39] Security analyst Miloslav Ondra launched an initiative to do so and started gathering signatures at Anděl metro station on 1 December 2021, reaching 200 signatures. According to Ondra, he had around 50 gathering stations across the Czech Republic.[40]
Candidates
To qualify for the ballot, a candidate had to gather 50,000 signatures from citizens or the support of twenty deputies or ten senators. The candidate must file their application and signatures 66 days before the election, following which the Interior Ministry will verify a sample of the signatures.[41]
| Candidate | Party | Office(s) held | Signatures | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrej Babiš | ANO 2011 | Prime Minister (2017–2021) First Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance (2014–2017) Leader of ANO 2011 (since 2011) |
56 deputies[42] | Babiš said in November 2021 that he would run in the upcoming presidential election if his supporters gathered enough signatures.[43][44] On 1 December 2021, security analyst Miloslav Ondra launched an initiative to gather signatures for Babiš's candidacy.[45][46] He announced his candidacy on 30 October 2022.[47] | |
| Jaroslav Bašta | SPD[a] | Ambassador to Ukraine (2007–2010) Ambassador to Russia (2000–2005) Minister without Portfolio (1998–2000) |
20 deputies[48] | Bašta is the candidate of Freedom and Direct Democracy,[49] and was also endorsed by the Tricolour Citizens' Movement.[50] | |
| Karel Diviš | Independent | – | 50,007 signatures[51] | Diviš, a businessman in the field of information technology, announced his candidacy in January 2022.[52] He submitted 61,000 signatures, but the total was reduced following sample analysis to 49,884, just below the requirement. He submitted a complaint to the Supreme Administrative Court and was eventually registered as a candidate.[53][54] | |
| Pavel Fischer | Independent[b] | Senator from Prague 12 (since 2018) Ambassador to France (2003–2010) |
19 deputies and 32 senators[55][48] | Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=2023_Czech_presidential_election||