Brussels, Jan 15 (CTK) – A possible victory of former Academy of Sciences head Jiri Drahos, who contests current Czech President Milos Zeman in the presidential runoff, might bring about a change of tone of Czech political representation towards Brussels, Professor Steven Blockmans has said.
Blockmans, University of Amsterdam professor and researcher at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) think tank based in Brussels, said Zeman received fewer votes in the first election round than estimated by opinion polls and that the other candidates were swift to voice their support for Drahos.
He compared the 2018 presidential election to a referendum about the controversial figure of Milos Zeman and his supporters in Kremlin, adding that he would not be surprised if a campaign were be launched now in an attempt to denigrate Drahos.
Blockmans also said he believed the election result would impact the ability of PM Andrej Babis to push through his cabinet.
Pieter Cleppe, the analyst of Open Europe centre seated in Brussels, pointed out that the result of the upcoming election second round is far from obvious.
According to Cleppe, the runoff will be a contest between two different types of people.
While Zeman is a well-known figure in Brussels and represents a Eurosceptic voice opposing the EU’s stance on Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, Drahos is betting on the fact that many people clearly support the Czech Republic’s EU membership, Cleppe noted.
It remains unclear though to what extent Zeman can be seen as part of the Russian camp, Cleppe added.
Cleppe said that although Zeman’s role is not an executive one, as the head of state, he can be forming the country’s public opinion. Cleppe cited the example of former Czech president Vaclav Klaus, who had marked influence on the EU’s debate.
If the president, who represents the country externally, slanders the EU on a daily basis, it certainly does impact the public debate, Cleppe said.
Cleppe noted that Klaus, who now clearly stands by Zeman, has shifted to utterly rejecting the entire EU concept.
