Polish president congratulates Czech Republic’s Pavel on election win

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has congratulated Petr Pavel on winning the Czech Republic's presidential election.

Petr Pavel

EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

Pavel, a former NATO general, on Saturday defeated ex-prime minister Andrej Babiš by a comfortable margin in the second round of the Czech presidential vote.

Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted: "The presidential election in the neighbouring Czech Republic ended today. Gen. Petr Pavel has been elected the new president of the Czech Republic!"

He added: "Dear Mr. President, congratulations and greetings from Poland! We invite you to visit Warsaw!"

Dziś zakończyły się wybory prezydenckie u naszych sąsiadów Czechów. Nowym Prezydentem Republiki Czeskiej został wybrany Gen. Petr Pavel!
Szanowny Panie Prezydencie, serdeczne gratulacje i pozdrowienia z Polski! Zapraszamy z wizytą do Warszawy!

— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) January 28, 2023

Pavel, a 61-year-old retired general and former army chief running for office for the first time, won the presidency after a campaign featuring strong backing for NATO and the European Union and support for aid to Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.

Retired General Petr Pavel is leading the elections in the Czech Republic. He is likely to become the country's new president.

Pavel is known for his pro-Ukrainian views, while his opponent, the scandalous oligarch Andrej Babiš, advocates cutting aid to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/tuApTBLLnS

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 28, 2023

Pavel won more than 58 percent of the vote in the runoffs, against less than 42 percent for Babiš, figures from nearly all voting districts showed on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Pavel declared that he would travel to Poland for his second foreign trip as president.

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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters