Veteran Zeman wins last big battle in Czech presidential vote
Milos Zeman
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Milos Zeman  the longest-standing figure in Czech post-communist politics  won a final major battle on Saturday  showing off his strong political instincts to secure a second presidential term.
The anti-migration platform has aligned  Zeman  with the Czech far-right. Tomio Okamura  the head of SPD  an anti-EU and anti-NATO party that won seats in an October general election  flanked  Zeman  on Saturday.
“Not only journalists but also some politicians possess intelligence that is substantially lower than that of normal citizens ”  Zeman  told  his  victory celebration.
 Zeman  supports a referendum on EU membership  although  he  said  he  would vote to stay.
A frequent question in the campaign was  Zeman ’s health. A heavy smoker and self-adverrtised drinker   he  has diabetes and difficulty walking due to neuropathy in  his  legs.
After the end of Communism in 1989   Zeman  joined the center-left Social Democrats - taking a position on the other side of the political scene from then-prime minister Klaus.
In 1998 the two surprised the country by forging an “opposition agreement” making  Zeman  prime minister and Klaus leader of a cooperative opposition.
 Zeman   however  maintained course to join NATO in 1999  and also kept the country on track to enter the European Union in 2004.
 Zeman  and Klaus - who served two presidential terms before Zeman - grew closer over the years  both sniping against liberal elites and adopting a favorable attitude to Russia. Klaus backed  Zeman  in his 2013 victory and this year’s election.
When elected president in 2013   Zeman  raised an EU flag above the Prague Castle. But he has focused on building ties with China and Russia. He attended military parades in Moscow and Beijing that other western leaders shunned  and appointed a Chinese company leader as his adviser.
 Zeman  has also tested the constitution’s boundaries in appointing governments.
Political analyst Tomas Lebeda said  Zeman  would now be even less concerned about appearances.
“ He  will not control or restrain  himself   as  he  promised several times between the first and second round - on the contrary ” Lebeda said.
[TGT]won a final major battle on Saturday  showing off [TGT] strong political instincts to secure a second presidential term.
The anti-migration platform has aligned  Zeman  with the Czech far-right. Tomio Okamura  the head of SPD  an anti-EU and anti-NATO party that won seats in an October general election  flanked  Zeman  on Saturday.
“Not only journalists but also some politicians possess intelligence that is substantially lower than that of normal citizens ”  Zeman  told  his  victory celebration.
 Zeman  supports a referendum on EU membership  although  he  said  he  would vote to stay.
A frequent question in the campaign was  Zeman ’s health. A heavy smoker and self-adverrtised drinker   he  has diabetes and difficulty walking due to neuropathy in  his  legs.
After the end of Communism in 1989   Zeman  joined the center-left Social Democrats - taking a position on the other side of the political scene from then-prime minister Klaus.
In 1998 the two surprised the country by forging an “opposition agreement” making  Zeman  prime minister and Klaus leader of a cooperative opposition.
 Zeman   however  maintained course to join NATO in 1999  and also kept the country on track to enter the European Union in 2004.
 Zeman  and Klaus - who served two presidential terms before Zeman - grew closer over the years  both sniping against liberal elites and adopting a favorable attitude to Russia. Klaus backed  Zeman  in his 2013 victory and this year’s election.
When elected president in 2013   Zeman  raised an EU flag above the Prague Castle. But he has focused on building ties with China and Russia. He attended military parades in Moscow and Beijing that other western leaders shunned  and appointed a Chinese company leader as his adviser.
 Zeman  has also tested the constitution’s boundaries in appointing governments.
Political analyst Tomas Lebeda said  Zeman  would now be even less concerned about appearances.
“ He  will not control or restrain  himself   as  he  promised several times between the first and second round - on the contrary ” Lebeda said.