Petr Pavel and Andrej Babis culminate their political duel in the second round of the Czech R. presidential elections

MADRID, 28 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The polling stations in the Czech Republic have opened their doors this Saturday on the second and last day of the second round of the presidential elections that pit retired general Petr Pavel, favorite in the polls, against former prime minister Andrej Babis, in the midst of a rarefied environment marked by threats.

Pavel had to deny this Thursday the information about his alleged death, a matter that is already being investigated by the authorities, while Babis's wife received a letter last weekend with insults and what appeared to be a bullet.

The retired general now has 57.6 percent support heading into the runoff compared with 42.4 percent for Babis, according to a poll conducted by STEM earlier this week and published by CNN Prima News on Sunday. . In a separate poll by Kantar for public television and collected by the DPA agency, Pavel got 53 percent and Babis 38 percent, with 9 percent still undecided.

Babis, who as prime minister clashed with the EU over immigration policies and allegations of conflict of interest regarding his companies, is seeking a return to high office after his defeat in the 2021 parliamentary election.

The former prime minister is also campaigning to become a counterweight to Prime Minister Petr Fiala's centre-right coalition, which he accuses of not doing enough to help people and businesses cope with the worst crisis in the world. cost of living in decades.

The Czech Republic's parliamentary system grants limited powers to the Presidency and leaves key executive authority in the hands of the Government. But the head of state has certain powers in the creation of the cabinet, directs the Army, chooses the central bankers and appoints the judges.

The results will be announced this Saturday between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands time), approximately one hour after the polls close.