Local Betting Markets See Petr Pavel As Presidential Frontrunner

Leading candidates in Czechia's presidential contest are on campaign trail, with just one week left until the election. The leading three candidates are fighting an even battle over making it into the runoff.

• The focus turns to the final TV debates, which analysts say could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the contest. On Sunday, CT will broadcast a debate with all but one candidate, before next Thursday's Nova TV debate with the leading three contenders.
• Andrej Babis declined the invitation from the state-owned broadcasted but confirmed his attendance at the Nova TV event to be held on the eve of the election. It will be he only debate before the first round in which he will participate.
• Babis is facing headwinds in the lead-up to the first round as he is a defendant in a fraud trial. The case is drawing to an end and the verdict will be publicly announced at 9:00am local time on Monday.
• Yesterday's update from local betting market aggregator mandaty.cz shows that retired army general Petr Pavel is the frontrunner to become the next Czech President, with an estimated 43% chance of success. The odds of Danuse Nerudova's victory are 34%, with Babis third on 22%.
• Simulations based on opinion polling suggest that Babis stands a chance of proceeding to the second round, but if the runoff was held today, he would lose to either of his two closest rivals by a wide margin.