Prague - A Czech-born economist Jan Svejnar, who left his native country in 1970 and has since mostly lived in the United States, announced Friday that he will run for the Czech presidency against incumbent Vaclav Klaus. "I would like to be the president who unites, not polarizes, the president of all citizens of this country," Svejnar told reporters.
Svejnar, a professor at the US-based University of Michigan, has so far collected the support of 10 senators needed for his nomination. He is also backed by junior ruling Greens.
The academic hopes to defeat free-market economist Klaus, known for his criticism of efforts to curb global warming and further integrate Europe.
"I want to prove that promoting both national interests and a pro-European stance ... can go hand in hand," he added.
To oust Klaus, who is to finish his first term in office in early 2008, Svejnar will have to secure votes of the leftist opposition.
While most Social Democrats are inclined to support him, Svejnar has yet to persuade the Communists, who have reservations about his life abroad and support of the US missile defence plans in Europe.
Svejnar, 55, and current president Klaus, 66, are at the moment the only official presidential candidates. The Civic Democratic Party nominated its co-founder and former leader Klaus in November.
The Czech presidential election is to start on February 8. Czech lawmakers elect a president for a five-year term in a joint session of parliament's lower house and senate in up to three rounds of voting.
