A new public opinion poll shows presidential hopeful Miloš Zeman, the former Social Democrat (ČSSD) prime minister, gaining ground on Czech-American economist Jan Švejnar — in the battle for second place. However, the latest Factum Invenio poll shows that Jan Fischer (unaffiliated), who served as prime minister in a caretaker government, would still win by a comfortable margin with 24.4 percent of the vote compared to 17.8 for Švejnar and 12 percent for Zeman.

Czech Social Democrats have ducked a difficult decision over whether to back an independent candidate, a US-based economist who found, and lost, one presidential campaign for them, or opt for a young, high-riding party senator, as their candidate in the first direct elections to become head of state. Economist  Jan Švejnar might take the decision off their hands by deciding to stick with his new job at Columbia University. 

In an interview with the daily Mladá fronta dnes (MfD) Jan Fischer said he will stand as a non-affiliated presidential candidate in 2013 if direct elections are introduced under legislation awaiting approval by the Senate. Popular potential candidate Tomio Okamura rejects offer by Christian Democrats.

Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the center-right party TOP 09, Karel Schwarzenberg, has stated that he would only consider standing as a presidential candidate in 2013 if direct elections are introduced. Nevertheless, it appears that President Václav Klaus’ spate of recent attacks upon TOP 09 and Schwarzenberg personally may have prompted the foreign minister to reconsider.