Czech Republic votes for president in second round between Petr Pavel and Andrej Babis

Voters in the Czech Republic cast their ballots on the second day of a presidential election between retired NATO general Petr Pavel and billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babis.

Pavel and Babis advanced to a second round of voting because none of the eight initial candidates secured an absolute majority in the first round two weeks ago.

The polls favor Pavel, an independent candidate who narrowly finished first in the opening round. Opinion polls suggest he will win 58-59 percent of the vote, compared to 41-42 percent for Babis.

Three other candidates pledged their support to Pavel ahead of Friday’s vote.

The rivals compete for a largely ceremonial role. But it will give the victor the power to appoint the government, elect the governor of the central bank and constitutional judges, and serve as the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Pavel, former chairman of NATO’s military committee, is a political newcomer. He has expressed his full support for the country’s military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Babis is a former prime minister whose centrist ANO (YES) movement swept into the opposition after losing the 2021 general election. He sparked controversy at the end of the campaign by saying he would not send troops if Poland or the Baltic states would be attacked.

He later backtracked on the comments, but not before drawing criticism from all four countries.

Babis is backed by his country’s current president, Milos Zeman, with whom he shares Eurosceptic views and has a habit of using anti-migrant rhetoric.

Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote. His second and final five-year term expires in March. Lawmakers elected the previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus.

The polls close at 2 p.m. Saturday. The results are expected shortly after the polls close.