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More than 45 percent of Czechs abroad voted for Jiří Drahoš in the first round of presidential elections. Pavel Fischer finished second with over 20 percent of the vote, followed by Marek Hilšer with more than 11 percent. The incumbent Czech president Miloš Zeman, who won the first round with round in the Czech Republic, secured 7.5 percent of the vote to finish in the fifth place.

Jiří Drahoš gained more than 50 percent of the vote among Czech voters in the US and Brussels. Miloš Zeman, on the other hand, secured votes of Czech soldiers on foreign missions, coming in the first place in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

More than 12,000 Czechs living abroad cast their ballot in the first round of presidential election, most of the in Great Britain, Germany and Brussels. There were altogether 109 polling stations outside the Czech Republic, mostly at Czech embassies and consulates.

The Civic Democratic Party has given its endorsement to Jiří Drahoš in the second round of direct presidential election set to take place in two weeks’ time. The suggestion was made by the party chairman Jiří Fiala on Sunday at the party’s congress in Ostrava.

Jiří Fiala, who was re-elected chairman of the Civic Democrats on Saturday, called on Czech citizens to take part in the presidential election and said that Miloš Zeman’s second term in office is not in the country’ best interest.

Jiří Drahoš, a former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and a university chemistry professor, is considered to be the most serious rival to the incumbent Miloš Zeman in the presidential race. Mr Drahoš is running as an independent candidate and has collected more than 142,000 signatures in his support.

Miloš Zeman and Jiří Drahoš have emerged as the strongest candidates from the first round of the Czech presidential election and are heading to a run-off for the top post in two weeks’ time.

The incumbent Czech president Miloš Zeman headed the polls going into the first round and confirmed the estimates by coming first with 38.7 percent of the vote. Jiří Drahoš, a former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who was regarded as Mr. Zeman’s most serious challenger, came second with over 26.6 percent of the vote.

Pavel Fischer, a diplomat and a former Czech ambassador to France, came in third with little over ten percent of the votes, closely followed by Michal Horáček and Marek Hilšer, who finished with 9.2 and 8.8 percent respectively.

Turnout in Friday and Saturday’s vote was slightly over 60 percent, more or less the same as in the first direct presidential elections five years ago.

Czech president Miloš Zeman, who is running for re-election, is ready to take part in a television debate with his rival Jiří Drahoš ahead of the second round of presidential election.

Mr Zeman made the announcement at a press conference on Saturday after over 99 percent of the vote was counted. The incumbent Czech president has so far refused to take part in any debates with other candidates.

Speaking from the headquarters of the Party of Civic Rights in Prague’s Hradčany, Mr Zeman thanked his supporters and asked them to come to the second round of the presidential election.

Most of the defeated candidates, including Pavel Fischer, Marek Hilšer and Mirek Topolánek, have given their endorsement to Jiří Drahoš in the second round of the presidential election.

Michal Horáček said he would support any candidate running against Miloš Zeman in the second round, while former Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek called on his voters not to stay at home in the second round and vote for Jiří Drahoš.

Vratislav Kulhánek, who finished last in the first round of the presidential elections, has also given his backing to Mr Drahoš, arguing that era of Miloš Zeman was over.

Miloš Zeman and Jiří Drahoš have emerged as the strongest candidates from the first round of the Czech presidential election and are heading to a run-off for the top post in two weeks’ time.

The incumbent Czech president Miloš Zeman headed the polls going into the first round and confirmed the estimates by coming first with 38.6 percent of the vote.

Jiří Drahoš, a former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who was regarded as Mr. Zeman’s most serious challenger, came second with over 26.6 percent of the vote.

Pavel Fischer, a diplomat and a former Czech ambassador to France, came in third with little over ten percent of the votes, closely followed by Michal Horáček and Marek Hilšer, who finished with 9.2 and 8.8 percent respectively. Former prime minister and former leader of the centre-right Civic Democratic Party Mirek Topolánek got a little over four percent to finish sixth, followed by Jiří Hynek, Petr Hannig and Vratislav Kulhánek.

Turnout in Friday and Saturday’s vote was slightly over 60 percent, more or less the same as in the first direct presidential elections five years ago.

Most commentators expect a tight race between Mr Zeman and Mr Drahoš in the run-off election. Much will probably depend on the voter turnout in the second round.

Current Czech president Miloš Zeman could be described as ‘the comeback kid’ of Czech politics. Of course, Zeman, as the second oldest candidate of the nine contenders standing this time round, at 73, might well disagree with that description.

Ukrainian activist, who disrupted Czech president Miloš Zeman as he voted on Friday afternoon on the outskirts of Prague, was taken into custody, the Czech News Agency reported on Friday.

The woman, who belongs to the activist group Femen, stripped off her shirt and ran towards the head of state, shouting ‘Zeman - Putin’s slut,' before she was tackled by the president’s bodyguards.

Zeman, aged 73 and seeking another five years in office, was visibly shaken by the event returned to cast his vote shortly afterwards. The activist could face up to three years in prison, if charged with disorderly conduct.

A topless woman disrupted Czech president Miloš Zeman as he voted on Friday afternoon on the outskirts of Prague.

The woman was tackled by a security guard after she took off clothing and ran towards the head of state. She was reported to belong to the activist group, Femen, and was shouting ‘Zeman Putin’s slut.' Zeman has been known for his support of the Russian president.

Zeman, aged 73 and seeking another five years in office, was visibly shaken by the event. and returned later to vote.