Petr Pavel wins first round of Czech presidential election, faces Andrej Babiš in the second round

The final results have been published online by the Czech Statistical Office. Turnout was 68.24 % compared to 61.9 % in the first round in 2018.

Pavel received votes from 1,975,056 people, while Babiš was the choice of 1,952,213 people. The second round of voting will be held on 27-28 January; Czech President Miloš Zeman will end his second term on 8 March.

Online rundown of the voting

14. 1. 2023, 23:25

The betting offices are clear: They believe Petr Pavel will become the next president. Fortuna says the odds for Pavel are 1.13, while Andrej Babiš is 6. Tipsport says Pavel has 1.12 odds, Babiš 6.4. Betano predicts Pavel 1.1, Babiš 6.5.

14. 1. 2023, 18:28

At the Janov housing estate in Litvínov, in localities where the Romani community lives, Babiš won. In electoral precinct no. 3, which includes Gluckova Street, where neo-Nazis attempted a pogrom against Romani residents in the autumn of 2008, Babiš won 85.52 % of the vote. Danuše Nerudová came in second there with 10.52 %. One vote each went to Petr Pavel, Jaroslav Bašta and Marek Hilšer. Turnout there was 23.38 %.

14. 1. 2023, 18:10

Presidential candidate and former PM Andrej Babiš (ANO) has congratulated the former representative of the Czech Army and NATO Petr Pavel on his victory in the first round of the presidential election and also congratulated candidate Danuše Nerudová, the former rector of Mendel University, for running a good campaign, according to the ex-PM. He also criticized Pavel during the press conference, alleging that if he becomes president it will not be good for the citizens because he will just be carrying out the will of the Government and maybe his sponsors.

Babiš then also called Pavel a communist intelligence officer. He followed that by remarking that another intelligence officer who is now a head of state is Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Somebody who celebrated the arrival of the occupiers made it into the Military Committee of NATO,” he alleged. “Mr. Pavel is a soldier, I don’t understand why he’s running. That’s never happened in the history of NATO.”

14. 1. 2023, 18:09

Candidate Petr Pavel has thanked his defeated challengers Pavel Fischer, Marek Hilšer and Danuše Nerudová for expressing support for him in the second round of the presidential election. They will negotiate what that support will mean in practice.

14. 1. 2023, 17:45

Czech MP Jaroslav Foldyna (SPD-Tomia Okamury) has confirmed to the Seznam Zprávy news server that he visited Babiš at home in the afternoon. Czech Television was the first to report the news. “I went to congratulate him,” said Foldyna, who has previously cast doubt on the suffering of Romani people in the WW II-era concentration camp at Lety u Písku.

“Mr. Foldyna and I met, that’s true. We discussed the fact that relatively few people turned out to vote in the Ústecký Region,“ Babiš commented. Czech MP Tomio Okamura then said Babiš sought the meeting to have Foldyna send him a message.

14. 1. 2023, 17:17

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has called on people to vote for Petr Pavel during the second round of the presidential election. In his view, this is a contest of democracy and respect for the Constitution versus lies and populism. He also said the Government will not be actively involved in campaigning before the next round of voting. The Spolu (Together) coalition (ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09) announced before the first round that they were most closely aligned with either Senator Pavel Fischer, former rector of Mendel University Danuše Nerudová, or Petr Pavel. Fiala congratulated the trio for their achievements and engagement in their respective campaigns.

14. 1. 2023, 16:57

Jaroslav Bašta, the candidate of the SPD Tomia Okamury movement, has lost. He came in fifth place with 4.4 % of the vote. “My hat is off to the majority of voters for the fact that Jaroslav Bašta, whose program included the breaching of the Czech Constitution, has absolutely failed in the election for President of the Republic,” Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil tweeted.

14. 1. 2023, 16:36

Petr Pavel has come in first place during the first round of voting for President of the Republic. He overtook Andrej Babiš, who had been leading up until now. Petr Pavel: 35.20 %, Andrej Babiš: 35.18 %

14. 1. 2023, 16:01

In the electoral precinct in Ostrava-Přívoz, Andrej Babiš has beaten Petr Pavel. In electoral precinct no. 8001, Babiš won 63.57 % of the vote, Pavel 17.14%. Voter turnout was about 20 %. Similar results were reported for electoral precinct no. 8002 as well.

14. 1. 2023, 16:01

At the Mojžíř housing estate in Ústí nad Labem, where a large Romani community lives, Andrej Babiš won convincingly with 73.54 % of the vote, Petr Pavel came in second (15.16 %) and Danuše Nerudová third (9 %). Turnout was just 19.83 %.

14. 1. 2023, 15:55

In Trmice, Andrej Babiš won 57.86 % of the vote, Petr Pavel came in second with 22.38 % and third place went to Danuše Nerudová (9.21 %). Turnout was 52.1 %.

14. 1. 2023, 15:44

A powerful finish by Peter Pavel. He is pulling back Andrej Babiš’s lead; currently the state of the vote is Andrej Babiš: 36.37 %, Petr Pavel: 34.07 %.

14. 1. 2023, 15:34

In Krupka, at the Maršov housing estate, where a rather large number of Romani people live, Andrej Babiš has beaten Petr Pavel. In electoral precinct no. 8, Babiš won 57.61 % and Pavel 24.35 %. Electoral turnout was 41.63 %. In electoral precinct no. 9, Babiš won 63.72 % and Pavel 17.64 %. Voter turnout there was 29.54 %.

14. 1. 2023, 15:25

Presidential candidate Petr Pavel has thanked voters for turning out and welcomed the high levels of participation. He has also thanked his rivals for the way in which they led their campaigns, which he believes were mostly correct. The retired army general also considers that result to be proof that things are not so bad with the political culture in the Czech Republic.

14. 1. 2023, 15:07

According to predictions by news server Seznam Zprávy, the first round contest between Babiš and Pavel is extremely even. Pavel could win an estimated 34-37 % of the vote, Babiš 33-37 %.

14. 1. 2023, 15:01

After the vote count in the third precinct, Babiš is leading (38.93 %) ahead of Pavel (31.65 %), followed by Nerudová and Fischer. The first round of the presidential election, according to the predictions of Czech Radio, Prima TV and Seznam Zprávy, will be won by Babiš ahead of Pavel, which corresponds to the results so far.

14. 1. 2023, 14:38

At the Chanov housing estate in Most, Andrej Babiš won with 93.1 % of the turnout (149 votes). Three votes each went to Jaroslav Bašta, Danuše Nerudová and Petr Pavel. Pavel Fischer got one vote. Turnout was unusually high compared to the last elections. More than 25 % of voters went to the polls, about three times more than usual.

14. 1. 2023, 14:38

According to the first results available, it seems the second round of the presidential election will be a contest between Andrej Babiš, who has won about 40 % of the vote so far, and Petr Pavel, who has won around 30 %. It is anticipated that the difference between them will narrow as more votes are counted.

14. 1. 2023, 14:21

The first results of the opening round of the presidential elections were reported from two municipalities, one in the Plzeň area and one in the Svitavy area. They were published at 14:19.

14. 1. 2023, 14:00

The polls have closed. Vote counting is starting. Given the results of preliminary surveys it is likely that, as in previous presidential elections, two finalists will now be determined who will complete the contest for the job at Prague Castle in two weeks’ time. The most successful candidates should be, according to betting offices, General Petr Pavel and ex-PM Andrej Babiš (ANO). Turnout, according to information reported by the Czech News Agency (ČTK) from electoral commissioners, was between 50 and 75 % in the regions.

14. 1. 2023, 12:10

People are still voting on Masarykovo náměstí in Říčany u Prahy. “Turnout is high, between 65 and 70 %,” a member of the electoral commission there told the correspondent for ČTK.

14. 1. 2023, 11:34

Voter turnout before noon fluctuated between 50 and 55 %. In some precincts more than 60 % of voters cast ballots. Less interest in choosing the new head of state is being shown by people in West Bohemia. Five years ago, the first round of the presidential elections saw 61.9 % of registered voters turn out.

14. 1. 2023, 11:05

The chair of the Union of Vlax Roma, Josef Stojka, has cast his ballot in precinct no. 23002 in Ostrava-Vítkovice. According to members of the electoral commission, not many Romani voters turned out on Friday. As Stojka told news server Romea.cz, he voted for Pavel Fischer. He explained to CNN Prima News why he did not vote for Andrej Babiš.

“We can’t forget how Babiš belittled the Holocaust and the Romani victims of the concentration camp at Lety years ago. Mainly, he didn’t even know the Holocaust had Romani victims,” Stojka said.

14. 1. 2023, 08:00

The second day of the first round of the presidential elections awaits the Czech Republic today. Polls will open from 08:00 to 14:00. Those who did not cast ballots on Friday will be able to vote.

Friday, 13 January 2023

13. 1. 2023, 22:00

The first day of the opening round of the third direct elections of the President of the Czech Republic has ended after eight hours of voting. Turnout was high.

13. 1. 2023, 21:15

The evening turnout for the presidential elections was about 50 % in some precincts, ČTK reported. In some locations it is higher than five years ago.

13. 1. 2023, 18:35

The estimated turnout as of 18:00 in the Ústecký Region was 33.14 %. ČTK was informed of the estimate by the spokesperson for the region, Magdalena Fraňková. Two hours previously turnout had been roughly 13 % lower.

13. 1. 2023, 18:10

Voter turnout in the capital was mostly about 20 %. The highest turnout so far was in Prague 8, with an average of 30 %, followed by Prague 3, where 22 % of the electorate turned out.

13. 1. 2023, 17:55

Accompanied by 20 journalists and her family, presidential candidate Danuše Nerudová cast her ballot in the dining room of the local pub in Kuřim-Podlesí. After voting, Nerudová said she would like to inspire young people to be part of change and contribute to it.

Nerudová came to the polls with her husband and both of her sons. She said she believes she would do a good job in office. She also said she already considers it a success to have placed among the favorites in the polling. “No other woman has ever made it this far,” she said.

13. 1. 2023, 17:40

“Free elections are not a duty, but a privilege. So, Romale, dzan te volbinel!” said Czech Government Commissioner for Romani Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková after casting her ballot.

13. 1. 2023, 16:10

The Czech Interior Ministry has explained on social media when votes are considered valid, tweeting photos of ballots that have been spoiled in various ways and therefore will not be counted.

13. 1. 2023, 15:42

The entrepreneur and mathematician Karel Janeček, who was not registered as a candidate for president by the Interior Ministry, has used the ballot for one of the candidates and written his own name on it. The original data remains legible, however, which means it could count as a vote for the legitimate candidate. In a subsequent discussion on Facebook, Janeček said he is aware he has cast a valid vote for Petr Pavel.

13. 1. 2023, 15:15

The chair of the Movement of Romani Students, volunteer civil society member of the Czech Government Council for Romani Minority Affairs Vladimír Čermák, has posted a video to Facebook calling on Romani people to go vote. “If politicians understand we have great voting power, they will focus their electoral programs on us,” he said.

13. 1. 2023, 15:00

Presidential candidate Petr Pavel cast his ballot at the Municipal Authority in Černouček in the Litoměřice area to the great interest of the media. His wife accompanied him. He told journalists his aim is to make it into the second round and win.

“We have come to the end of the 10-year era of Miloš Zeman, we’ve all experienced the degradation of the dignity of the Office of the President, so this primarily will be about restoring dignity, establishing normal communications for our country, and endeavoring to achieve results not through confrontation, but through cooperation,” he told the press.

13. 1. 2023, 14:45

Czech President Miloš Zeman has cast his vote in the presidential elections at the school in Lány. He said he wants his successor to be somebody with a lot of political experience. Previously during the campaign he supported ex-PM Andrej Babiš (ANO). “A person who is practically beginning in politics and doesn’t have experience is a risk to all citizens and to himself,” Zeman said.

13. 1. 2023, 14:40

Presidential candidate Andrej Babiš (ANO) has cast his ballot at the polls in Průhonice along with his children and his wife. He said he would consider it a success to make it into the second round. He also said he believed turnout could be high.

13. 1. 2023, 14:30

Cyril Koky, who works as the Specialist Officer for National Minorities at the Central Bohemian Regional Authority, has already cast his ballot in the presidential elections. He told news server Romea.cz that he voted for Marek Hilšer.

13. 1. 2023, 14:10

Election results will be published online during Saturday afternoon. On Monday they will be reviewed by the State Electoral Commission, Interior Ministry spokesperson Ondřej Krátoška told ČTK.

13. 1. 2023, 14:00

The first round of voting for the President of the Czech Republic has begun. People will be able to choose from among eight candidates. Polls will be open from 14:00 to 22:00.