Okamura runs for president

Zlin, South Moravia, Oct 20 (CTK) - Businessman Tomio Okamura officially announced his presidential candidature Saturday, saying he was encouraged by his success in the Senate elections in which he was running as independent.

He said he will also seek support of Chamber of Deputies and Senate lawmakers.

"The trust of voters is a strong signal telling me that people want radical changes, more direct democracy like me," Okamura told journalists.

Okamura beat Zlin Region governor Stanislav Misak (Social Democrats, CSSD) in the second round of election that ended Saturday.

He gained 66.23 percent of the vote, or 17,401 votes.

Okamura said he knows he has extremely little time to collect the necessary 50,000 signatures a presidential candidate needs.

Okamura said he does not want to collect posts. "For me posts and a strong mandate are an instrument with which to implement my visions for the republic," Okamura said.

Czechs will elect the president for the first time early next year, when President Vaclav Klaus's second five-year term expires. Until now presidents were elected by the two houses of parliament.