Czech presidential election, January 2023

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Publication Date 2023
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Summary:

Information Guide focusing on the presidential election held in Czechia in January 2023.

Further Information:

Incumbent Czech president Miloš Zeman assumed office in 2013 and won reelection in 2018, serving the two-term limit. Candidacies for the 2023 presidential election were discussed among party leaders as early as 2018.

In early January 2023 opinion polls predicted a close race between populist businessman and former prime minister Andrej Babiš, retired NATO general Petr Pavel, and economist and university professor Danuše Nerudová. Presidential campaigns were influenced by the wider geopolitical context. Key issues included the war in Ukraine, the economy, inflation and the global energy crisis, and LGBTQ+ rights.

On 13-14 January 2023 the first round of voting in the Czech presidential election was held.  Pavel, running as an independent, led after the first round with 35.39% of the vote. Babiš, the leader of ANO 2011, followed closely with 35.0% of the vote. After finishing third with 13.93% of the vote, Nerudová endorsed Pavel.

The second round of voting took place on 27-28 January 2023. Petr Pavel won the election after receiving 58.3% of the vote in the second round, while his opponent Andrej Babiš received 41.6%.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): Election Guide: Czech Republic https://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/58/
Emerging Europe: Tag: Czech Presidential Election 2023 https://emerging-europe.com/tag/czech-presidential-election-2023/
Robert Schuman Foundation: European Election Monitor (EEM): Analysis, 13/12/2022: First round of the Czech presidential election on 13-14 January 2023: 3 out of 9 candidates are running neck and neck https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/2020-first-round-of-the-czech-presidential-election-on-13-14-january-2023-3-out-of-9-candidates-are-running-neck-and-neck
Balkan Insight: Analysis, 28/12/2022: Babis mines polarisation of Czech society in bid for Presidency https://balkaninsight.com/2022/12/28/babis-mines-polarisation-of-czech-society-in-bid-for-presidency/
EUObserver, 06/01/2023: A troubled past hangs over Czech presidential election https://euobserver.com/eu-political/156574
London School of Economics (LSE): Department of Government Blog, 06/01/2023: Lesser of two evils: choosing the next Czech president https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/government/2023/01/06/lesser-of-two-evils-choosing-the-next-czech-president/
Euro|topics, January 2023: Final phase in the Czech presidential election https://www.eurotopics.net/en/294736/
Balkan Insight, 12/01/2023: Runners and riders on the starting line for Czech presidential election https://balkaninsight.com/2023/01/12/runners-and-riders-on-the-starting-line-for-czech-presidential-election/
Friedrich Naumann Foundation: Analysis, 13/01/2023: The Czech Republic is looking for a president https://www.freiheit.org/germany/czech-republic-looking-president
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), 15/01/2023: NATO General Within Reach of Czech Presidency https://cepa.org/article/nato-general-within-reach-of-czech-presidency/
Euro|topics, January 2023: Babiš or Pavel: who will be the next Czech president? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/294899/
Politico: Opinion, 16/01/2023: Don’t worry, Czech democracy will be fine https://www.politico.eu/article/dont-worry-czech-democracy-will-be-fine/
The Economist, 17/01/2023: The next Czech president will be a Trumpish oligarch or a general https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/01/17/the-next-czech-president-will-be-a-trumpish-oligarch-or-a-general
Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW): Analyses, 17/01/2023: The Czech Republic: General Pavel is getting closer to becoming the new president https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2023-01-17/czech-republic-general-pavel-getting-closer-to-becoming-new
University College London (UCL): SSEES Research Blog, 20/01/2023: Czech presidential election: the oligarch or the general? https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/2023/01/20/czech-presidential-elections-the-oligarch-or-the-general/
Reuters, 24/01/2023: Petr Pavel: who is the ex-army chief leading Czech presidential election race? https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/petr-pavel-who-is-ex-army-chief-leading-czech-presidential-election-race-2023-01-24/
Foreign Policy, 26/01/2023: Andrej Babis’s Scorched-Earth Bid for the Czech Presidency https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/26/czech-elections-president-babis-pavel/
Deutche Welle, 28/01/2023: Czech election: Ex-NATO general Pavel defeats ex-PM Babis https://www.dw.com/en/czech-election-ex-nato-general-pavel-defeats-ex-pm-babis/a-64544954
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA):, 29/01/2023: From Havel to Pavel: The New Czech President https://cepa.org/article/petr-pavel-election-sends-positive-signals-to-czech-allies/
Centre for Eastern Studies (OWS): Analyses, 30/01/2023: Czech Republic: General Pavel wins the election https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2023-01-30/czech-republic-general-pavel-wins-election
The Irish Times: Editorial, 30/01/2023: The Irish Times view on the Czech presidential election https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorials/2023/01/30/the-irish-times-view-on-the-czech-presidential-election/
Balkan Insight: Analysis, 30/01/2023: Robbing Peter to pay Paul: not the Czech President's style https://balkaninsight.com/2023/01/30/robbing-peter-to-pay-paul-not-the-new-czech-presidents-style/
Friedrich Ebert Foundation: IPS Journal, 31/01/2023: An ex-General wins the Czech presidential election https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/an-ex-general-wins-czech-presidential-election-6479/
Robert Schuman Foundation: European Election Monitor (EEM): Results (2nd Round), 31/01/2023: Petr Pavel elected President of the Czech Republic https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/2026-petr-pavel-elected-president-of-the-czech-republic

News
Radio Prague International: Presidential elections 2023 https://english.radio.cz/presidential-elections-2023-8768395
EurActiv, 23/12/2022: The Czech Republic heading to the polls in 2023 https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/the-czech-republic-heading-to-the-polls-in-2023/
EurActiv, 09/01/2023: Czechs say farewell to president Zeman ahead of nail biter elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czechs-say-farewell-to-president-zeman-ahead-of-nail-biter-elections/
Duetsche Welle, 11/01/2023: Czech presidential race wide open after court ruling https://www.dw.com/en/czech-presidential-race-wide-open-after-court-ruling/a-64350315
The Guardian, 12/01/2023: Czechs prepare to elect president after 10 years of Miloš Zeman https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/12/czech-republic-presidential-election-milos-zeman-populism
Euronews, 12/01/2023: Czech Presidential elections: Eight condenders, three favourites, two days of voting https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/12/czech-presidential-elections-eight-condenders-three-favourites-two-days-of-voting
BBC News, 13/01/2023: Czech presidential vote: All to play for after 10 years of Zeman https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64246903
Le Monde, 13/01/2023: Czech presidential election marks end of Zeman era, with its abuses of power https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/01/13/czech-presidential-election-marks-end-of-zeman-era-with-its-abuses-of-power_6011516_4.html
France 24, 13/01/2023: Leading trio do battle to become Czech president at polls https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230113-leading-trio-do-battle-to-become-czech-president-at-polls
Politico, 14/01/2023: Pro-Western retired general leads first round in Czech presidential election https://www.politico.eu/article/pro-western-retired-general-leads-first-round-in-czech-presidential-election/
Euronews, 14/01/2023: Czech Presidential elections: Petr Pavel scores narrow win over Andrej Babis in first round https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/14/czech-presidential-elections-petr-pavel-scores-narrow-win-over-andrej-babis-in-first-round
Deutsche Welle, 14/01/2023: Pavel wins first round of Czech presidential election https://www.dw.com/en/czech-republic-ex-general-pavel-wins-first-round-of-presidential-election/a-64395190
Associated Press (AP News), 14/01/2023: Pavel edges Babis in first round of Czech presidential vote https://apnews.com/article/politics-czech-republic-government-milos-zeman-andrej-babis-europe-97a2cedfbd8326c877aa3540aa884b29
Le Monde, 14/01/2023: Two frontrunners as Czechs vote for new president https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/01/14/three-frontrunners-as-czechs-vote-for-new-president_6011578_4.html
The Guardian, 15/01/2023: Czech presidential election: Babiš likens rival to Putin after first-round defeat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/15/czech-presidential-election-babis-likens-rival-putin-first-round-defeat
EurActiv, 16/01/2023: Former Czech PM uses fear of war tactic in presidential elections campaign https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/former-czech-pm-uses-fear-of-war-tactic-in-presidential-elections-campaign/
Euronews, 19/01/2023: Czech elections: Police investigating bizarre texts allegedly sent by candidate Petr Pavel https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/19/czech-elections-police-investigating-bizarre-texts-allegedly-sent-by-candidate-petr-pavel
Reuters, 19/01/2023: Czech government survives no-confidence vote https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/czech-government-survives-no-confidence-vote-2023-01-19/
Euronews, 23/01/2023: Czech presidential candidate Babiš backpedals after 'anti-NATO' comments spark ire https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/23/czech-presidential-candidate-babis-backpedals-after-anti-nato-comments-spark-ire
EurActiv, 23/01/2023; Czechia’s Babiš questions country’s assistance to NATO allies https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czechias-babis-questions-countrys-assistance-to-nato-allies/
LRT News, 23/01/2023: Czech presidential candidate rejects possibility of Russian attack on Baltics https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1872760/czech-presidential-candidate-rejects-possibility-of-russian-attack-on-baltics
Euronews, 25/01/2023: Czech presidential candidates seek calmer tone before run-off vote https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/25/czech-election
The Guardian, 27/01/2023: Barbs and beards from Babiš as crunch Czech election test looms https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/27/andrej-babis-crunch-presidential-election-beards-barbs
BBC News, 27/01/2023: Czechs to vote in second round of presidential election https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64421310
EurActiv, 27/01/2023: Czech presidential election begins amid ‘alarming’ levels of disinformation https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czech-presidential-election-begins-amid-alarming-levels-of-disinformation/
The Guardian, 28/01/2023: Pro-western Petr Pavel sweeps to landslide win in race for Czech presidency https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/28/petr-pavel-wins-landslide-victory-in-czech-presidential-elections
Politico, 28/01/2023: Petr Pavel defeats Andrej Babiš to become next Czech president https://www.politico.eu/article/petr-pavel-to-become-next-czech-president-polls/?ref=upstract.com
EurActiv, 28/01/2023: Retired Czech general Pavel wins presidential election https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/retired-czech-general-pavel-wins-presidential-election/
BBC News, 29/01/2023: Petr Pavel: Ex-general beats populist rival in Czech election https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64438955
Euronews, 29/01/2023: Record turnout as Pavel sweeps to victory in Czech Republic's presidential elections https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/29/record-turnout-as-pavel-sweeps-to-victory-in-czech-republics-presidential-elections

Official
Czech Statistical Office: Election of the President of the Czech Republic held on 13–14 January 2023 https://www.volby.cz/pls/prez2023/pe?xjazyk=EN
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE): ODIHR: Czech Republic: Presidential Election, 13 and 14 January 2023 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/czech-republic/534257

Wikipedia: 2023 Czech presidential election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Czech_presidential_election

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