Next Czech presidential election explained

Country:	Czech Republic
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	yes
Previous Election:	2023 Czech presidential election
Previous Year:	2023
Election Date:	By January 2028
President
Before Election:	Petr Pavel
Before Party:	Independent (politician)

Presidential elections will be held in the Czech Republic no later than January 2028.^[1] The incumbent president Petr Pavel is eligible to run for another term, and the election will most likely be direct.

Background

2023 election

At the previous election in January 2023, Petr Pavel was elected for his first term defeating former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.^{[2] [3]} His inauguration was held on 9 March 2023.

Since 2023 election

Fortuna made a list of odds for the 2028 presidential election soon after the 2023 election. Petr Pavel was viewed as front runner. Other potential candidates with a chance to win included Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Minister of Interior Vít Rakušan and President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil.^[4] Petr Pavel said on 6 March 2023 that he might not seek reelection, as he considers it "reasonable that a person remains in such an office for only one term". He added that when there are two presidential terms possible, the president could behave during their first term to be reelected, in order to enjoy their second term.^[5] 2023 presidential candidate Danuše Nerudová confirmed her intention to run on 20 March 2023 stating "I hope that optimism to run again won't leave me in 5 years."^[6]

On 8 March 2024 Pavel suggested for the first time that he might seek reelection. He stated that it would depend on the political and social situation and also on whether he had the support of his family.^{[7] [8]}

Candidates

Speculative

• Pavel Fischer, Senator and candidate in the 2018 and 2023 elections, did not rule out becoming a candidate again when asked, commenting "you will hear from me again."^[9]
• Dominik Hašek, ice hockey player, stated in 2020 that he plans to run for president in 2028.^[10]
• Karel Janeček, mathematician, entrepreneur and 2023 candidate, did not rule out standing.^[11]
• Michael Kocáb, composer, singer, political activist and former Minister for Human Rights and Minorities, stated on 5 October 2023 that he intends to run in the next presidential election.^[12]
• Danuše Nerudová, economist, MEP and candidate in the 2023 election, said on 20 March 2023 that she is interested in running.^[6]
• Pavel Novotný, Mayor of Řeporyje, stated that he will seek nomination for the 2028 election.^[13]
• Petr Pavel, the incumbent President, is eligible to run for second term.^[14]
• Tomáš Sedláček, economist expressed interest in running.^[15]

Declined

• Andrej Babiš, MP, former Prime Minister and ANO 2011 nominee in the 2023 presidential election, announced on 5 April 2023 that he will not run again.^[16]
• Marek Hilšer, Senator and candidate in the 2018 and 2023 elections, stated after his defeat in 2023 that he doesn't feel like running again, adding that twice is enough.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Musil . Petr . Do konce dekády nás čeká volební maraton. Od hlasování si odpočineme jen v roce 2027 . cnn.iprima.cz . 3 February 2023 . cs.
2. Web site: Shabu . Martin . Pavel: Těší mě silnější mandát, než měl Zeman. A před vstupem na Hrad chystá audit. Lidovky.cz . 3 February 2023 . cs . 28 January 2023.
3. News: Jiříček . Petr . Exkluzivně v Deníku: Takto reagují politici z Ostravska na vítězství Petra Pavla . Moravskoslezský deník . 3 February 2023 . cs . 28 January 2023.
4. Web site: Zemen . Jiří . Favoritem prezidentských voleb v roce 2028 je i Petr Fiala. prahain.cz . 3 February 2023 . cs.
5. Web site: Beranová . Klára . Pavel připustil, že nebude znovu kandidovat: Pět let je až až. Novinky.cz . 7 March 2023 . cs.
6. Web site: Kriušenko . Anastasija . Za pět let znovu do boje o Hrad? "Myslím, že ano," řekla Danuše Nerudová . Hospodářské noviny (HN.cz) . 22 March 2023 . cs . 20 March 2023.
7. Web site: Trousilová . Alžběta . Šamanová . Dáša . Pavel nevyloučil, že bude znovu kandidovat . Novinky.cz . 8 March 2024 . cs . 8 March 2024.
8. Web site: Petr Pavel nevyloučil bojové síly NATO na Ukrajině a také, že opět bude kandidovat . iDNES.cz . 8 March 2024 . cs . 8 March 2024.
9. Web site: Neúspěch matadorů Fischera s Hilšerem? Nic nového nepřinesli, míní experti. Lidovky.cz . 6 February 2023 . cs . 15 January 2023.
10. Web site: V roce 2028 to zkusím! "Dominátor" Hašek chce být vaším prezidentem . Parlamentní listy . 20 June 2023.
11. Web site: Šindelář . Rudolf . Karel Janeček: Věřím, že se konečně dočkáme spravedlivých prezidentských voleb v roce 2028 . ŽivotvČesku.cz . 20 June 2023 . cs . 9 May 2023.
12. Web site: Kubík . Jiří . Kocáb: Bývalý komunista na Hradě je velké selhání. Příště kandiduju sám . Seznam Zprávy . 5 October 2023 . cs.
13. Web site: Pavel Novotný: Budu prezidentem. D*bilové nechápou, že na Hradě měla být Němcová. Už vím, jak to bude . Parlamentní listy . 20 June 2023.
14. Web site: Kovanda . Lukáš . Jak prezident Petr Pavel ovlivní českou ekonomiku? . Newstream . 29 January 2023 . 3 February 2023 . cs.
15. Web site: Čermák . Miloš . Ekonom Sedláček: Za pět let bych rád zkusil kandidovat na prezidenta. Seznam Zprávy . 13 February 2023.
16. Web site: Na prezidenta už kandidovat nebudu, oznámil Babiš. Seznam Zprávy . 5 April 2023 . cs.
17. Web site: Hilšer označil svůj výsledek za prohru, podpořil Pavla, v politice nekončí. ceskenoviny.cz . 23 March 2023 . cs.