Czech Senate elections: STAN and People’s Party candidates lead

According to preliminary results of the first round of the Senate elections, candidates from STAN and from coalitions including the People’s Party are leading in several districts. The figures reflect a partial count.

Where a clear leader has emerged

In Rychnov nad Kněžnou, Jan Grulich of TOP 09, who is running for a joint team of his party, the People’s Party, ODS and other groups, has 61 percent after 70 percent of the votes were counted. His lead appears unlikely to change. The senator’s surname is similar to that of People’s Party leader Grolich, and the two are easy to confuse.

In the Příbram district, 69 percent of the votes have been counted, and Petr Štěpánek (STAN) has more than 44 percent. In the Louny region, over 70 percent have been processed, with Ivo Trešl (STAN) ahead on more than 40 percent. In the Kolín region, too, over 70 percent have been counted, and Michal Kašpar (STAN) has more than 45 percent.

Districts still up for grabs

In the Plzeň district, less than a quarter of the votes have been counted. Lucie Kantorová (ANO) leads, followed by former Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka, nominated by STAN, with more than 29 percent, and Lumír Aschenbrenner (ODS) is third with 17 percent.

In the Ostrava district, Ondřej Šimetka, nominated by a coalition of ODS, the People’s Party, TOP 09, the Pirates and STAN, has just under 50 percent. In the Karviná region, Lenka Brzyszkowská (ANO) is clearly ahead with 34 percent. Helena Pešatová, nominated by STAN, has almost 40 percent in the Frýdek-Místek district. In the Děčín region, Zbyněk Linhart of STAN has over 50 percent with around half of the votes counted.

Czechs have finished voting, and the count is under way in the municipal elections and the first round of the Senate vote. The second round of the Senate elections will take place next week.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz