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| Czech voters pick new president to replace Klaus | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Czechs are electing a successor to President Vaclav Klaus, a conservative Eurosceptic who has led his country for the past 10 years. | |
| It is the first direct election for the president, who makes some key appointments but does not carry much day-to-day power. | It is the first direct election for the president, who makes some key appointments but does not carry much day-to-day power. |
| Voters have nine candidates from whom to choose. Opinion polls suggest that there is no clear front runner. | Voters have nine candidates from whom to choose. Opinion polls suggest that there is no clear front runner. |
| The election will go to a second round if no candidate wins 50% of the vote. | The election will go to a second round if no candidate wins 50% of the vote. |
| The BBC's Rob Cameron reports from Prague that a debate between the candidates on the eve of the vote was lacklustre, and did little to narrow the field. | The BBC's Rob Cameron reports from Prague that a debate between the candidates on the eve of the vote was lacklustre, and did little to narrow the field. |
| There were just too many candidates for a meaningful exchange of views, he says. | There were just too many candidates for a meaningful exchange of views, he says. |
| Two of the most prominent candidates are former prime ministers, Milos Zeman and Jan Fischer. | Two of the most prominent candidates are former prime ministers, Milos Zeman and Jan Fischer. |
| Mr Fischer, however, is dogged by his past membership of the Communist Party, while Mr Zeman's time in office was controversial, our correspondent reports. | Mr Fischer, however, is dogged by his past membership of the Communist Party, while Mr Zeman's time in office was controversial, our correspondent reports. |
| The elderly Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, is a favourite among the young urban voters. | The elderly Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, is a favourite among the young urban voters. |
| Another contender is the drama professor, painter and composer Vladimir Franz, who is covered in blue tattoos. | Another contender is the drama professor, painter and composer Vladimir Franz, who is covered in blue tattoos. |
| The new president will represent the Czech Republic abroad and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank. | The new president will represent the Czech Republic abroad and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank. |
| Mr Klaus, a charismatic but divisive figure, is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term in office. | Mr Klaus, a charismatic but divisive figure, is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term in office. |
| Correspondents say his departure is likely to be welcomed in many European capitals, which were often exasperated by his blunt suspicion of European integration. | Correspondents say his departure is likely to be welcomed in many European capitals, which were often exasperated by his blunt suspicion of European integration. |
| However, many in the Czech Republic gave him credit for his economic policies when in government in the 1990s, and for his decision to keep out of the euro. | However, many in the Czech Republic gave him credit for his economic policies when in government in the 1990s, and for his decision to keep out of the euro. |
| Mr Klaus's predecessor as president was the playwright and dissident Vaclav Havel, the leader of the Velvet Revolution that brought down Communist rule in 1989. |