BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Czech Republic’s former left-leaning prime minister has staged a big return to power by winning the country’s first directly elected presidential vote.

With all the votes counted, Milos Zeman won 54.8 percent of the vote for the largely ceremonial post. His opponent, conservative Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, had 45.2 percent.

As the new Czech president, Zeman will exercise little day-to-day governance, but will represent the country in foreign affairs, and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank. Zeman is slated to be sworn in on March the 8th.

(Source: CNTV.cn)