Retired general Petr Pavel scored a tight majority in the first round of the Czech presidential election on Saturday, coming ahead of former prime minister and businessman Andrej Babiš.
“The danger is that we would start sliding not only toward populism but also start veering off the course we followed the past 30 years, clearly pro-democratic, pro-Western, pro-European,” Pavel said of a potential victory of Babiš once the results were announced.
The two are now poised to face each other in the second round of the leadership contest in two weeks’ time.
According to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, the second ballot will confirm Pavel taking the lead with 59 percent, against the 40-41 percent expected by Babiš.
That’s good news for European bureaucrats, who reckon a Pavel victory would make EU-wide negotiations smoother and prevent the Czech Republic from further isolating itself.
“While Babiš loves to brag about having everybody’s phone number around the EU, he was never seen as a man of compromise here in Brussels,” one diplomat told POLITICO on condition of anonymity. The “EU is rather a playing card for him, which he either uses to exaggerate his personal skills and influence or to picture a scapegoat responsible for people’s hardships,” he said.
The official added that “on the other hand, Pavel has a significant career in military and NATO and is seen as a rational figure.”
“He knows a compromise is not a dirty word and the security and prosperity of our free world needs to be cared about. With real allies.”
If the post of president doesn’t carry executive powers, it holds a significant power in that the holder can appoint prime ministers, central bank bosses and judges on the constitutional court.
The elections came on the heels of a ruling by a court in Prague acquitting the former prime minister for alleged fraudulent appropriation of EU subsidies, which was expected to boost Babiš’ electoral score.
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