Polls have opened in the first direct presidential election in the Czech Republic. More than 8 million voters are eligible to chose a new head of state to replace outgoing President Vaclav Klaus. Euro-skeptic Klaus, 71, has completed the maximum two five-year terms allowed by the constitution. Opinion polls ahead of the Friday-Saturday vote show former prime ministers Jan Fischer and Milos Zeman in front, followed by Vladimir Franz, a composer who has tattoos covering most of his body. A total of nine candidates are standing. The top two finishers will compete in a runoff in two weeks. The position is mostly ceremonial, but can be influential through appointments to offices, amnesties, and veto powers.
Czechs Elect President Directly For The First Time
![Presidential candidate Vladimir Franz, a musician and artist known for his full-body tattoos, waits to cast his ballot in Prague.](https://gdb.rferl.org/aa91821b-eb82-4122-b3a6-fb606dea5e28_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Presidential candidate Vladimir Franz, a musician and artist known for his full-body tattoos, waits to cast his ballot in Prague.
![The candidates appear at their final pre-election debate.](https://gdb.rferl.org/028e6916-b376-4ef4-bb3b-714244b69fb2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The candidates appear at their final pre-election debate.
![The Czech presidential candidates prepare for a pre-election debate on television. In the front are Milos Zeman (left), Vladimir Franz, and Karel Schwarzenberg.](https://gdb.rferl.org/d94b2a60-c14f-4075-a685-847cb8495760_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The Czech presidential candidates prepare for a pre-election debate on television. In the front are Milos Zeman (left), Vladimir Franz, and Karel Schwarzenberg.
![Vladimir Franz appears beside rivals Milos Zeman (left) and Jiri Dienstbier.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0d02ba7d-6c51-46f6-9765-02223bd5a7a1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Vladimir Franz appears beside rivals Milos Zeman (left) and Jiri Dienstbier.
![A mother casts a ballot at a polling station in Prague, accompanied by her son.](https://gdb.rferl.org/70ad5732-b10b-443c-8486-e0ab72474f6d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A mother casts a ballot at a polling station in Prague, accompanied by her son.
![Candidate Jan Fischer speaks to the media after casting his vote.](https://gdb.rferl.org/475f1634-867c-4c72-addf-d89f02218eee_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Candidate Jan Fischer speaks to the media after casting his vote.
![Candidate Milos Zeman and his daughter Katerina arrive at a polling station in Prague.](https://gdb.rferl.org/1cf0e313-ef3b-467e-83c0-c3115626d7bb_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Candidate Milos Zeman and his daughter Katerina arrive at a polling station in Prague.
![An elderly woman leaves a polling station in Prague.](https://gdb.rferl.org/caeee943-9cf2-4f22-b396-fe1c414f27c6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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An elderly woman leaves a polling station in Prague.
![Residents walk through the snow to vote.](https://gdb.rferl.org/c2b44749-a225-49f1-8fce-a0e61ee34776_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Residents walk through the snow to vote.
![A child looks out from behind a curtain as her mother fills up her ballot.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4e543549-f89f-4c8b-b7fd-bb6730bbb7e4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A child looks out from behind a curtain as her mother fills up her ballot.
![A billboard features presidential candidate Milos Zeman (left); beside it is a photograph of former Czech President Vaclav Havel wearing a T-shirt showing presidential candidate and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.](https://gdb.rferl.org/9734c998-fb7b-493b-91ff-4cafcf4266c6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A billboard features presidential candidate Milos Zeman (left); beside it is a photograph of former Czech President Vaclav Havel wearing a T-shirt showing presidential candidate and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.
![Czech President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia at a polling station in Prague. Klaus is leaving office after serving two five-year terms.](https://gdb.rferl.org/120eb857-1d3f-4d15-9922-f8a6db2c9689_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Czech President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia at a polling station in Prague. Klaus is leaving office after serving two five-year terms.