Czech ex-PM Babis favorite in presidential vote's 1st round

PRAGUE (AP) — Populist billionaire Andrej Babis leads a field of eight candidates hoping to succeed Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial but prestigious post of the Czech president.

Babis, a former prime minister, was recently acquitted in a fraud trial, boosting his chances of winning in the first round of the presidential election in voting on Friday and Saturday.

If no candidate achieves a majority, the top two finishers will face each other in a runoff in two weeks’ time.

The second and final five-year term of controversy-courting Zeman expires on March 8.

Zeman divided the nation with his pro-Russia stance — until the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24 — and support for closer ties with China.

Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote. The previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, were elected by lawmakers.

Here’s a look at the vote:

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Under the Czech constitution, the president has the power to pick the prime minister, and to appoint members of the Central Bank board. The president also selects Constitutional Court judges with the approval of Parliament’s upper house.

Otherwise, the president has little executive power and the country is run by the government chosen and led by the prime minister, currently the conservative Petr Fiala.

EMBATTLED FAVORITE

Babis, 68, has been a divisive figure in politics.

With Zeman, his political ally, he espouses a strong anti-migrant rhetoric, which unites him with anti-migration champion Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister.

During his campaign, Babis tended to avoid the subject of the war in Ukraine, saying he wants to focus on domestic issues, including high inflation for which he blames the current five-party ruling...