Bobošíková collects needed signatures to run for president

Prague, Sept 29 (CTK) - Jana Bobosikova, chairwoman of the extra-parliamentary party Sovereignty, has gathered 50,000 people's signatures she needs for running in the Czech direct presidential election in early 2013, Sovereignty deputy head Vaclav Musilek announced Saturday.

Bobosikova, 48, former MEP, is the third candidate to gather the required number of signatures, after former prime ministers Milos Zeman and Jan Fischer, who both rank among the election's favourites.

The candidates fielded by big parties, such as Jiri Dienstbier (Social Democrats, CSSD) and Premysl Sobotka (Civic Democrats, ODS), need not gather people's signatures as their candidacy is proposed by members of parliament.

Musilek said Bobosikova's success in gathering signatures shows that the policy pursued and ideas promoted by Sovereignty have met with a positive acclaim among the public.

Bobosikova has based her policy mainly on criticising the EU and loudly defending the "national interests."

Musilek said Sovereignty will continue gathering signatures in support of Bobosikova's candidacy until the sheets with them are handed over to the relevant authorities.

Senate chairman Milan Stech (CSSD) is to set the date of the presidential election on October 1. He previously said the election would take place either on January 11-12 or a week later.

If so, the candidates would have to submit their applications by November 6 or November 13, respectively.

November 23 or 30 would be the deadline for the Interior Ministry to decide on the registration of the candidates who met the required conditions.