President Milos Zeman defeated Jiri Drahos in the presidential election in Prague, Czech Republic, January 27, 2018. Photo: Reuters

Prague (People’s Daily) – Incumbent Czech President Milos Zeman will serve a second five-year term after winning Saturday’s national run-off election for the Eastern Bloc nation’s highest seat.

By late Saturday, ballot officials confirmed Zeman’s victory, narrowly defeating rival Jiri Drahos, with 52 percent of the votes.

Zeman, who is tough on immigration, while also a strong supporter of Russia and China, will become the Czech Republic’s third president after his inauguration ceremony in early March at Prague Castle.

Opposition leader Drahos, a pro-EU scholar and intellectual without prior political experience, told Czech reporters after the results were announced, “We did not win, but we didn’t lose either. I am terribly happy for this huge wave of energy.”

The previous two Czech Republic presidential leaders include playwright Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus.

Zeman, who is 73 years old, won his first presidential election in 2013 when he was the nation's prime minister.