BBC: Former PM Milos Zeman has won the Czech Republic's presidential election - the first time the position has been decided by direct popular vote.
He won 55% of votes in the second-round poll, compared to Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg's 45%.
Voters had braved freezing conditions to turn out in what was being seen as a nail-bitingly close poll.
Mr Zeman is seen as a hard-drinking, chain-smoking politician, known for his witty put-downs of opponents.
As president, he will represent the Czech Republic abroad and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank, but the post does not carry much day-to-day power.
Mr Zeman will replace the eurosceptic Vaclav Klaus, who steps down in March after ten years in office.
Both presidential candidates support deeper integration of the European Union. (+ video) » | Saturday, January 26, 2013
