Dienstbier has 50,000 signatures for presidential candidacy

Prague, Oct 22 (CTK) - Senator and Czech Social Democrat (CSSD) deputy chairman Jiri Dienstbier has collected more than 50,000 citizens' signatures necessary for his presidential candidature, he announced Monday.

Dienstbier also presented his election programme in which he promised to fight against corruption, for a dignified life and education, health care and social services for all.

He said he would like to restore the dignity of the presidential post connected with the traditions of Czech and Czechoslovak democracy and care for the Czech Republic's respectable place in Europe and in the world.

The first direct presidential election in the Czech Republic will be held in January, 2013. Until now, the president has been elected by the two houses of parliament.

The second and last five-year term of current President Vaclav Klaus expires in early March 2013.

The presidential candidate's nomination can be submitted by every adult citizen who presents a petition with minimally 50,000 signatures, or by at least 20 deputies or ten senators.

Dienstbier decided to collect signatures for his candidacy though his CSSD has a sufficient number of deputies and senators who could submit his candidacy.

Dienstbier said Monday he had decided to gather signatures since he wanted a strong and unquestionable mandate.

The first presidential candidate to collect the sufficient number of 50,000 signatures is the former Social Democrat (CSSD) head and former prime minister, Milos Zeman.

Jan Fischer, former PM of a caretaker cabinet, who is the most popular candidate according to polls, has also collected the required number of signatures, along with other candidates - Sovereignty party chairwoman Jana Bobosikova, Zuzana Roithova, MEP for the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), and former industry and trade minister Vladimir Dlouhy.

They will compete with Foreign Minister and government TOP 09 chairman Karel Schwarzenberg and senior government Civic Democrat (ODS) senator Premysl Sobotka. The first Czechoslovak cosmonaut Vladimir Remek is considering his candidacy for the Communists (KSCM).

Senate chairman Milan Stech (CSSD) announced that the first round of the presidential election would be held on January 11-12, 2013, and the second round two weeks later.

The candidates must hand in their applications by November 6.