Erasmus Student’s Thoughts on Czech Presidential Elections












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            * Erasmus Student’s Thoughts on Czech Presidential Elections
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            Writing an article on the election for a head of state is something of a novelty for me. C

            Scotland, we have Queen Elizabeth as our head of state. We have elections to Westminster, 
            Parliament at Holyrood, but none for our highest representative of state. This is the firs
            have had a direct election for the Czech presidency, and the first round result has alread

            a surprise, with Karel Schwarzenberg performing far better than expected. To someone as in
            politics as myself, this election offers a fascinating insight not only into the political
            Czech Republic, but also into the divisions that still remain in Czech society.

            Before the first round of voting, it was widely predicted that former Prime Minister Jan F
            independent technocrat appointed after Mirek Topolánek's resignation, would perform well. 

            runner was Miloš Zeman, like Fischer a former Prime Minister, and the ex-leader of the soc
            ČSSD. Instead, Karel Schwarzenberg, an aristocrat, former emigre and leader of the liberal
            party Top 09, took most pollsters by surprise and came in second, less than a percentage p

            Zeman. Thus, the first round gave us the classic left versus right ideological battle for 
            with Zeman victorious in the ČSSD heartlands of Moravia (with the exception of Brno) and N
            Bohemia, and Schwarzenberg winning in Prague and the rest of Bohemia. However, for me this

            epitomises far more than the normal conflict between left and right. Zeman was a member of
            party during their rule, Schwarzenberg an emigre living in Austria. Schwarzenberg is wildl
            younger votes and the intelligentsia, with Zeman representing the older generation, and th

            of a better phrase, lost out post 1989. To me, this election represents not just the battl
            presidency, but for the heart and soul of Czech political life.
            Naturally, we must usually deal in generalisations when analysing any political event or s

            will always be those who defy generalisations when choosing who to support. However I beli
            to the polarisation of the candidates ideologies in the second round, this election will d
            prevailing ideological position of Czech politics and foreign affairs for quite some time.

            if elected, will no doubt steer the Czech Republic towards a far more pro-EU position than
            allowed. He is also far more supportive of action on climate change than Zeman, who regard
            myth. Zeman, it has been argued by some, will play a more active role in day to day politi

            opponent more likely to play the more traditional role of a political figurehead. Even if 
            personalities, the two couldn't be further apart. Zeman, the outspoken career politician r
            Klaus, and Schwarzenberg, a sophisticated liberal with a penchant for bow ties certainly r

            Václav Havel.
            Who will win though? Normally I'm adverse to predicting election results, as I never want 
            course. In this case however I'd hesitate to predict who'll win because, after the result 

            round, frankly it's far, far too close to call. The campaign has certainly been very negat
            which is sadly all to common these days. Let us hope that, whatever the outcome, the end r
            positive change for the Czech Republic.