Pavel, a pro-Western former general, preferred the election of the Czechs as president
PRAGUE, 27 january (Reuters) – A former Czech army chief who is one of the main pro-Western candidates backing aid to Ukraine chief Petr Pavel, the Czechs are new the president The former billionaire when he went to the second round of voting Prime Minister Andrey preferred Babis. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pavel, 61, a bearded retiree, ran as an independent candidate and won the support of the Czech Republic’s center-right cabinet.
Czech presidents do not have many day-to-day powers, but prime ministers and central bank they choose their leaders, have a say in foreign policy, are strong opinion makers and can push the government into policy.
Betting agencies give him odds of winning from Babis 10 times more, and he led the final opinion polls released on Monday.
Voting starts at 14:00 (1300 GMT) on Friday and ends at 14:00 on Saturday.
Pavel enlisted in the army during the communist era, when Prague was part of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact, and was decorated for peacekeeping services in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. He rose to head the Czech General Staff and 2018three years until he retired in NATOof military was the chairman of the committee.
Pavel’s colleagues appreciated his calm, decisive decision-making ability, ability to find consensus and resistance to stress.
It is central Europe country European Union and NATOran on the platform to keep strong in , and will come to Ukraine against the invasion of Russia military supports aid.
Pavel also supports the adoption of the euro common currency, a move that has been on the back burner for years, and progressive policies such as gay marriage.
Pavel himself at the final rally that brought thousands of people to Prague’s historic Old Town Square on Wednesday political he tried to present himself as a candidate who could build a bridge in the trenches.
“When I served in the army political I served the country and the whole country regardless of preferences and the president I want to serve as well,” he said.
“We are all democracy, freedom, tolerance, decency, cooperation of problems way we want to solve it”.
BABIS PLAYS THE FIGHT CARD
68-year-old Babis in 2017-2021 Prime Minister chemistry, food, village is a business tycoon struggling in the economy and media sectors. He has been on warm terms with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who has clashed with EU partners over the rule of law.
Babis based his campaign finale on the fear of war in Ukraine caused by the spread of Russian occupation. He to mediate peace negotiations offer said that he would do it and that Pavel, as a former soldier, could drag the Czech Republic into war offer did.
Pavel dismissed the accusations as nonsense and warmongering.
Babis, closer relations with China and Russia The outgoing figure, a divisive figure who pandered to Moscow as well as outside forces such as the pro-Russian Communist Party before invading Ukraine the president He had the support of Milos Zeman.
As the leader of the largest opposition party, Babis voted for a government that he says has done little to help people cope with rising energy prices. protest presented as
Reporting by Jan Lopatka Editing by Mark Heinrich
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-01-27 03:21:34
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”