Czech leaders cast ballots as parliamentary elections get underway

Czech political leaders were among the first to vote as parliamentary elections opened on Friday. President Petr Pavel cast his ballot in Černouček, Litoměřice district, warning that post-election negotiations would be difficult given the deep divides between the government coalition and the opposition. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, leader of the Civic Democrats (ODS) and head of the Spolu coalition, voted in Brno, calling the election a choice between “the past and the future” and urging undecided voters to make their voices heard. Other top figures who already voted include Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (Civic Dmocrats), ANO Party leader Andrej Babiš in Ostrava, TOP 09’s Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Mayors and Independents chief Vít Rakušan, Pirate leader Zdeněk Hřib, SPD head Tomio Okamura, Motorists chairman Petr Macinka, and Enough! leader Kateřina Konečná.