The guy who won, Milos Zeman is an ex-communist and caters to some of that communist nostalgia typical to segments of Eastern/Central European rural people...
He’s voiced interest in allying Czech interests more closely with China and with Russia - and indeed is buddy-buddy with some Russian oligarchs and Putin. (It’s unfortunate, the U.S. media has stirred up so much fake Trump collusion hype, that people with *actual* Russian ties aren’t fairly examined.)
Regardless, Zeman’s NOT a puppet, and is ultimately a Czech nationalist. And, from my understanding, even when he was communist, was not pro-USSR.
He helped bring his country into the E.U./NATO fold despite being more of a Eurosceptic in recent years and that carried over into his views about the U.S.
His role as president is largely ceremonial as most of the actual power is held by the Prime Minister. And now that Trump is president, he may become more pro-American. Who knows.
Drahos (the other guy) was in my view, like an Emmanuel Macron, but less politically skilled: pro NATO/pro EU with reforms, but NOT the migrant-amnesty, hyper-leftist the opposition paints him whatsoever.
Also, unlike Zeman, he was firmly in the anti-communist camp during crucial years in Czech history.
Thanks for the info on Zeman. It’s somewhat reassuring with respect to Czech sensibilities on immigration.