Senator Jiří Dienstbier, the Social Democratic Party’s nominee for
president, officially launched his campaign on Friday near the
presidential
Lány Chateau. As part of his campaign, the candidate intends to receive
backing from at least 50,000 voters. Technically, as a parliamentary party
nominee, Mr Dienstbier has no need of the signatures that non-party
candidates must amass in order to run. But he made clear that he felt it
was a minimal requirement he would fulfil. Thirteen others are at various
stages of preparing their candidacies ahead of the country’s first-ever
direct presidential elections, to be held early next year. One of those
aiming to get elected, former prime minister Miloš Zeman, has already
received the 50,000 signatures required.