Experts: Babiš tactic to deter potential Pavel voters in runoff

Andrej Babiš’s tactic in the second round of Czech presidential elections will be to deter potential voters of his rival Petr Pavel, political scientists have told the Czech News Agency.

Former PM Babiš began his campaign for the runoff with an aggressive speech on Saturday evening, just hours after the results of the first round, highlighting allegations that Mr. Pavel did a military intelligence course in late Communist Czechoslovakia and comparing him to Vladimir Putin.

Political scientist Josef Mlejnek said Mr. Babiš was attempting to denigrate Mr. Pavel as much as possible in the eyes of Mr. Pavel’s own voters and the voters of some losing candidates.

Expert Miroslav Mareš said that Mr. Babiš’s address, in which he also said Mr. Pavel was the government’s candidate, was very confrontational and that he had already pulled out the big guns.

The second round takes place the weekend after next.