PRAGUE, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Czech Interior Ministry has approved nine candidates to campaign for the post of Czech president, announced Deputy Interior Minister Petr Mlsna at a press conference on Friday.
The nine candidates are the incumbent President Milos Zeman who seeks re-election, former Science Academy chairman Jiri Drahos, and businessman and lyricist Michal Horacek.
Former Skoda Auto chief Vratislav Kulhanek, Security and Defence Industry Association head Jiri Hynek, musician and The Reasonable party chairman Petr Hannig, former ambassador to France Pavel Fischer, doctor Marek Hilser and former prime minister Mirek Topolanek are also among the candidates.
The other 11 contenders who failed to submit enough signatures of people or MPs required for a candidate's nomination were rejected by the ministry, said Mlsna.
The rejected candidates can appeal the decision with the Supreme Administrative Court (NSS), and the NSS should decide on possible appeals by mid-December, according to the ministry.
The first round of Czech presidential election is to be held on Jan. 12-13, 2018.
If no candidate gains an overwhelming majority of votes, a run off vote will take place two weeks later and people will choose their president from two of the finalists.
