Ex-PM Babis in early lead in Czech presidential election

PRAGUE (AP) — Populist billionaire Andrej Babis was in the lead in the Czech presidential election, according to early results on Saturday.

Babis, a former prime minister, had 38% of the vote with ballots from more than 50% of polling stations counted, the Czech Statistics Office said.

His main challengers, retired army Gen. Petr Pavel was running second with 32.5% while another challenger, economist Danuse Nerudova, was in third with 13.7%.

If no candidate achieves a majority, the top two finishers will face each other in a runoff in two weeks’ time.

The Czechs are picking a successor to Milos Zeman in the largely ceremonial post, with Babis leading a field of eight candidates after a two-day voting that was completed Saturday.

Babis was acquitted this week in a fraud trial, which boosted his chances of winning in the first round.

A court in Prague acquitted Babis, 68, on Monday of fraud charges in a $2 million case involving European Union subsidies. The prosecution can still appeal. Babis had pleaded not guilty and repeatedly said the charges against him were politically motivated.

Despite a number of scandals, his popular support remains strong, particularly among older voters.

Polls predicted that Pavel, 61, a former chairman of NATO’s military committee; and former university rector Nerudova, 44, would be Babis' main opponents.

Polls indicate that none of the remaining candidates is likely to make the runoff.

Babis, whose centrist ANO (YES) movement ended up in opposition after losing the 2021 general election, is supported by Zeman, with whom he shares euroskeptic views and the habit of using anti-migrant rhetoric.

Zeman was the first president elected by popular vote. His second and final five-year term expires in March.

Lawmakers elected the previous two...