Chekhia votes for new president

The president's position in Czechia is considered ceremonial.

billionaire Andrey Babish is among the eight candidates competing for president.

The elections started Friday and ended on Saturday afternoon.

Babish, the former prime minister, has been acquitted this week in a trial of fraud, a decision that has increased the chances of winning the first round of presidential elections.

If none of the candidates win the majority, the two most votes will face the second round in two weeks.

The retired military general, Petr Pavel, 61-year-old, former NATO military committee member, and former university rector Danushe Nerudova, 44-year-old, are Babish's main competitors.

Otherwise, Zaman has held two five-year terms in power.

His second mandate, and last, expires in March.

He was the first president to be elected by popular vote.

The other two former presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus, have been elected by the lawmakers' vote. /rel