Czech voters go to polls in 2-day general election

Opinion polls suggest eurosceptic business mogul likely to be nominated prime minister

ISTANBUL (AA) - Millions of voters in the Czech Republic will go to the polls Friday and Saturday in a general election which is likely to see a eurosceptic billionaire businessman nominated as prime minister.

According to latest opinion polls Andrej Babis, the 63-year-old leader of the ANO party, looks set to win the most votes, despite being the subject of a criminal fraud investigation.

Voting takes place over two days and polls will open on Friday at 2 p.m. local time (1200GMT). More voting will take place on Saturday with an unofficial result expected around 7 p.m. (1700GMT).

The public will choose between 31 parties in an open-list proportional representation contest across 14 multi-member constituencies.

Turnout in 2013 was just over 59 percent -- about five million voters -- according to the Czech Statistical Office.

Although ANO is tipped to become the largest party, it will likely have to do a coalition deal with some combination of Social Democrats and Christian Democrats.

The Communist party is likely to remain the largest opposition group.

Kaynak:

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