国际英语新闻:Czech Former PM wins presidential elections

PRAGUE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Former Czech prime minister Milos Zeman vowed to represent all Czech citizens including the "lower ten million," after voting results showed he had won the country's first direct presidential election beating the conservative rival Karel Schwarzenber.

"As the president elected in a direct vote, I promise to try and be the president of all citizens," Zeman said.

"I want to be the president of the lower ten million, including the voters of both Zeman and Schwarzenberg," he said.

Results from the Czech Statistical Office showed Zeman had received 54.8 percent of the vote today in the presidential runoff, while Schwarzenberg won 45.2 percent.

As the new Czech president, Zeman will exercise little day-to-day governance, but will represent the country in foreign affairs and will appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank.

Zeman is slated to be sworn in on March 8.

The president-elect said he would visit Slovakia during his first foreign trip. He would unveil his plans after taking the presidential oath before lawmakers.

Out-going Czech president Vaclav Klaus welcomed Zeman's vitory, adding that he had made no secret of his support to Zeman.

"I am proud of the Czech nation... At the very long last, truth and love have defeated lie and hatred," Klaus said.

According to Czech political scientist Michal Klima, Zeman's victory was a triumph of Klaus who provided a massive support to him.

"Milos Zeman has a very strong charisma. Along with his leftist leanings, this was also decisive," Klima said.