Zeman pledges to be president of all Czechs

He said he considered his victory convincing.

Zeman received 54.8 percent of the vote in the presidential runoff.

Zeman said he would visit Slovakia during his first foreign trip.

He said he would unveil his plans after taking the presidential oath before lawmakers.

"As the president elected in a direct vote, I promise to try and be the president of all citizens," Zeman said.

"I want to be the president of the lower ten million, including the voters of both Zeman and Schwarzenberg," he added.

Zeman named the first steps he was about to take while in office. At first, he will take the presidential oath, deliver the inauguration speech and visit the government.

He said he would then speak to both parliamentary chambers, in which the public would learn "everything substantial."

Zeman said he would like to be the head of state that linked people.

Zeman said before being sworn in, he would retire to his country house to have a rest. Then he will return to Prague.

Leftist candidate Zeman, a former Social Democrat prime minister, defeated conservative Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in the second round of the first direct presidential election today.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz