Ex-general Petr Pavel becomes new Czech president

LONDON

Petr Pavel, a retired general, and NATO commander won the Czech presidential elections on Saturday with nearly 90% of the ballots counted.

Pavel won against billionaire and former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

Prague Morning reported Pavel got 58% of the votes, with Babis trailing at 42.9%.

Pavel, 61, launched his campaign with the slogan, "Let's bring order and peace back to the Czech Republic."

The 68-year-old Babis has faced trial over fraud allegations connected to a €2 million (about $2.17 million) EU subsidy in September last year. He was acquitted from the lawsuit just four days ago.

A second round of voting took place on Jan. 27-28, after the first round on Jan. 13-14 ended in a close tie.