First day of Czech direct presidential election´s 2nd round ends

The turnout was slightly higher than on the first day of the first round two weeks ago.

The turnout has been the highest, almost 50 percent, in Prague, while in some regions, Karlovarsky, west Bohemia and Moravskoslezsky, north Moravia, for example, it reached about 30-35 percent today.

Compared with the first round, a higher number of voters used voter cards enabling them to cast their ballots outside their home town. This chance was used by many skiers spending their winter holiday in the mountains.

For example, in Modrava, a small village in the Sumava mountains, west Bohemia, 24 of the 65 local eligible voters turned up in the polling station, plus 151 strangers using voter cards.

The election will continue on Saturday, from 8:00 to 14:00. The preliminary results of run-off vote are to be available at www.volby.cz later tomorrow.

Earlier today, the Interior Ministry asked the electoral commissions in individual wards to carefully check all voter cards produced, in view of speculations that some voters may copy their cards and try to cast their ballots repeatedly at various places.

A few commissions have reported suspicious voter cards whose owners were admitted to the election but the cards are yet to be thoroughly examined.

The two candidates who were the most successful of nine contenders in the first round are seeking presidency in the ongoing run-off battle - former socialist PM Milos Zeman (Citizens´ Rights Party, SPOZ) and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09).

Outgoing President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) and both presidential contenders cast their ballots today. Schwarzenberg´s vote is invalid, however, because he did not put his ballot paper in the official envelope as required before casting it in the box.

Due to the time shift, the second day of the election has already started for Czech expatriates living on the American continent.

In North America, Czech voters´ interest in the polls was about 50 percent higher on the first day than on the first round´s first day on January 11.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz