Zeman team to announce TV debate details on Tuesday

Incumbent Miloš Zeman’s team will provide details on Tuesday regarding television debates ahead of the second round of voting in the Czech presidential elections, his spokesman said. Mr. Zeman refused to hold public discussions with other candidates prior to the first round. However, he said after Saturday’s vote count that he would be glad to meet his challenger Jiří Drahoš face to face.

Mr. Zeman suggested the ideal number of debates would be two. His spokesman wrote on Twitter on Monday that “campaigns should be about opinions” and that was how the president’s camp would proceed.

Mr. Zeman received 38.6 percent in the first round. Mr. Drahoš got 26.6 percent but has the backing of a number of defeated first round candidates. The second round takes place on January 26 and 27.

Author: Ian Willoughby