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With 99.35 percent of districts reporting, Mr Zeman won the run-off election round with 51.55 percent of the vote to 48.44 percent for his opponent Jiri Drahos. Pro-EU academic Mr Drahos conceded defeat this afternoon before the final votes were counted. It means Mr Zeman, aged 73, has secured a second term in charge of the nation, beating pro-EU academic Drahos. And he did it on the back of a tough stance against immigration and courtship of closer ties with Russia and China.

Mr Zeman has also caused panic in Brussels by failing to rule out his own Brexit-style referendum. During a TV debate, Mr Zeman said Czech citizens should have a direct say on political issues and that he is not opposed to a referendum on EU membership. He said: “Brexit is a decision that must be respected.” Political analyst Michael Romancov said afterwards: "Zeman never questioned the Czech membership in the EU, but on the other hand he said he would welcome a referendum on exit and in practice he significantly deviated from both EU and NATO.” Mr Zeman blocked the Czech Republic’s planned entry to the eurozone during his first term in office. During this election campaign he declared he was for the adoption of the common currency, in principle, but he does not want to allow "Czech taxpayers to pay Greek debt”.

Mr Zeman has won the election

He said: ”The moment Greece leaves the eurozone or is excluded, I will gladly support it.” Richard Bingley, a regional security specialist, as well as UKIP's home affairs spokesperson, said: "Mr Zeman committed to an EU membership referendum in last Thursday's national TV debate. Of course, we'll see how the Czech people vote. But today's result is a seismic boost for all of us pro-democracy, anti-EU campaigners. It will also send shockwaves across to expansionist EU institutions and their bullying bureaucrats." Speaking to supporters today, defeated Mr Drahos said: "We did not win, but we didn't lose either. I am terribly happy for this huge wave of energy. "I am convinced this energy will not disappear, that it will stay." The Czech constitution gives presidents limited executive powers, but Mr Zeman has not hesitated to test the boundaries. In 2013, for example, he appointed a caretaker government of his allies for five months against the will of parliament.

GETTY Mr Zeman celebrated the result

GETTY It will be Zeman's second term in office