Zeman reiterates support for Babiš, calls Pavel government candidate

The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, has reiterated his support for Andrej Babiš to replace him. Speaking to the news outlet Blesk a day after Mr. Babiš and Petr Pavel reached the second round of presidential elections, Mr. Zeman said the vast majority of civilised countries did not have as head of state a soldier, referring to Mr. Pavel’s previous profession. He also said that the ex-Czech Army chief of staff was the government’s candidate.

Speaking on Czech Television, Mr. Pavel denied that he was the candidate of the government and said he was independent.

Some months back the Together alliance, comprising three of the five parties in the coalition, said they favoured Mr. Pavel or two other candidates who later failed to make the second round runoff.