Civic Democrats endorse government colleague Schwarzenberg for president

The Civic Democrats have endorsed Karel Schwarzenberg, chairman of the party’s coalition partner TOP 09, in the second round of an election to succeed Václav Klaus as president that takes place at the end of next week. The Civic Democrats’ own candidate, Přemsyl Sobotka, came second last in the nine-candidate first round at the weekend. He had already given his backing to Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, who faces left-wing former prime minister Miloš Zeman in the runoff to become the third president of the Czech Republic.