Who not to vote for.

It's hard to decide again. The eight candidates are on offer to several million voters and include a mix of original and vapid approaches to self-presentation. This after the sudden resignation of the gradually improving union activist Josef Středula. While five years ago, the pre-written-off aspirants for the castle engagement included, for example, Petr Hannig or Vratislav Kulhánek, this year, the adept for a meagre gain in the electoral votes is mainly Tomáš Zima.

Media has matched a trio of favorites that includes one significant new addition to the 2018 lineup, a woman. Without wishing to introduce a gender card into the pre-election thoughts, I consider it significant that we can include Danuša Nerudová among the possible winners. However, this should be the end of the purely descriptive perception of the external features of the candidates. Overall, the somewhat uncertain and somewhat stiff, hasty and confused in her statements, the rector of Mendel University can be seen as an acceptable option for lovers of surprises à la Čaputová in Slovakia (2019). Andrej Babiš is a personality from whom one can expect absolutely anything, from stammering, bad Czech, insults and whining, to a brilliantly punctuated story of a rich man who has the interests of all those "ordinary people" foremost in mind. It is the choice for those who don't understand context and had no problem with the involvement of the outgoing president. The 60-year-old general, whom the bookmakers credit with the best chances of being elected, has so far made no big mistakes, yet it is clear that he is avoiding some answers and using humour rather than honesty to cover his ignorance. He assumes that less activity will produce fewer mistakes. Paul Fischer is unacceptable to most because of his somewhat condescending academicism and poorly concealed ultra-conservative views on some areas. Marek Hilšer has shown too much elementary ignorance to be taken seriously. Karel Diviš, after a sympathetic return to the battlefield, failed to exploit the potential of an unjustifiably bullied adept and unhappily played the card of aggression, assertiveness and a kind of violent visibility. And what to say about Jaroslav Bast? He appears like an abused child, i.e. he repeats learned phrases, does not perceive his surroundings, appears distracted and arouses paradoxical sympathy combined with shame. In this way, he can speak to quite a few people who suffer from a similar syndrome.

It would soon appear that there is no one to elect. But that's not true. Almost any of the candidates can handle the role of president of the Czech Republic, though the concepts will vary. Yes, it is certainly about the team the winner brings to the Castle, it is certainly about what influence group has been able to subtly help and expects a return performance. But the voter does not see that far or deep. He or she must rely on personal sympathies and his or her own analysis of facts and impressions.

photo credit: presidential standard