Czech presidents have limited executive powers, but Mr Zeman and his predecessors have had a strong influence on public debate. With votes from 98.9 per cent of districts counted, Mr Zeman led the race with 38.6 per cent of votes, while Mr Drahos had won 26.6 percent. “This looks hopeful,” Mr Drahos told supporters and reporters at a Prague theatre after most results had come in. They are not puppets that can be manipulated by endorsement from whoever,” Mr Zeman told reporters at his campaign headquarters. A win for the soft-spoken, grey-haired chemical engineer Mr Drahos could mean the tone of the Czech leadership shifts closer to the EU mainstream.

Source: The Irish Times January 13, 2018 21:22 UTC