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UPDATE: Polish president congratulates Petr Pavel on Czech election victory, invites him to visit Warsaw

28.01.2023 19:00
Poland's President Andrzej Duda has congratulated Petr Pavel on winning the Czech presidential election and invited him to visit Warsaw, an aide said on Saturday.
Petr Pavel (right), with wife Eva Pavlova.
Petr Pavel (right), with wife Eva Pavlova.Photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

Pavel, a former NATO general, on Saturday defeated ex-prime minister Andrej Babiš by a strong 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!"

Petr Pavel prezydentem Czech. Andrzej Duda złożył gratulacje zwycięzcy i zaprosił do Polski Petr Pavel and Andrzej Duda. Photos: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK; PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The Polish president's foreign policy adviser Marcin Przydacz announced that Duda "held a phone conversation with the winner of the presidential elections in the Czech Republic" and that "the atmosphere of the call was very good, friendly and stressed the best Polish-Czech neighbourly relations."

Przydacz also said that Duda congratulated Pavel on his election victory and invited him to visit Poland.

Pavel, a 61-year-old retired general and former army chief running for office for the first timewon 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.

Pavel won 58.3 percent of the vote in the runoffs, against 41.7 percent for Babiš, results from all voting districts showed on Saturday.

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

Petr Pavel Petr Pavel. Photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, TVP Info