The former prime minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, announced Sunday that he will run in the presidential elections to be held next January, despite the fact that the polls are not favorable to him.
Two and a half months before the election, the billionaire and member of the opposition has announced his candidacy to return to office.
«The polls do not give me many options, but I am a fighter,» the 68-year-old politician said during an interview on the Nova television channel. Babis had been expected to file his candidacy for months.
The ANO party founder is currently facing a trial in which he faces accusations of complicity in public subsidy fraud as a businessman.
«In democratic countries, a politician resigns when accused, but Andrej Babis, craves castle immunity,» Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala wrote on his Twitter account in reaction to the announcement, referring to the Prague Palace, the seat of the national government.
According to a poll prepared by the Stem/Mark opinion institute a month ago, 23 percent of those who will be called to the polls would vote for former general and former chairman of the NATO military committee, Petr Pavel. Babis would be in second place with 17 percent support, followed by Danuse Nerudova as 14 percent.
Presidential elections will take place next January 13-14, with a runoff likely two weeks later.
Milos Zeman is currently serving his second and last term as head of state, which will end in Mazo, as he cannot run again.
In the Czech Republic, the president has mainly representative functions but is considered an important opinion leader.
