The first round of the first popular elections of the President of the Czech Republic ended with a high turnout

The first tour of the presidential elections in the Czech Republic, which first took place in the form of direct expression of the will of citizens, ended at 14:00 local time (17:00 in Moscow) with a high appearance of voters. In some areas, the queues were even formed, and voters had to wait for a long time to quit an envelope with a ballot balloon at the urn, ITAR-TASS reports.

According to preliminary data, the former Prime Minister Milos Zeman, who is gaining 26% of the vote, leads.

According to the Central Electoral Commission, a few hours before the closing of polling stations in Prague, Liberetsky, Karlovar and Moravskoslez region, the turnout exceeded 50%. In the town of Nova Veril, where Milos Zeman was born, up to 75% of voters voted.

Observers state that the activity of voters in the first in the history of the democratic Czech Republic of direct popular elections of the head of state was significantly higher than in the elections to local authorities and the Senate, which were held in October 2012.

Preliminary election results will be published on Saturday evening.

If none of the candidates will gain more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a second, completing the election tour of the head of state, will be held on January 25 and 26. Two leaders of the first round will participate in it, and the winner will determine the simple majority of votes.