
Presidential candidates (L-R): Zuzana Roithova, Jan Fischer, Jana Bobosikova, Tatana Fischerova, Premysl Sobotka, Milos Zeman, Vladimir Franz, Jiri Dientsbier and Karel Schwarzenberg attend a television debate in Prague, Czech Republic
Two ex-prime ministers, both former Communists, are tipped as favourites to top a list of nine first-round candidates - including an artist tattooed from head to toe - and enter a run-off slated for January 25-26.
While polls suggest straight-talking left-winger Milos Zeman is the strongest candidate for the presidency of the EU state of 10.5 million, he is unlikely to score the simple majority needed to clinch a first-round victory.
Surveys show he is likely to face mild-mannered centre-right Jan Fischer in round two.
The winner will step into the shoes of two-term president Mr Klaus, who was elected by lawmakers, just like his predecessor Vaclav Havel, the Czech Republic's first president.













