The Czech Republic elected its new president, Petr Pavel, on January 28. Pavel’s team said he called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday and is planning to call President Tsai Ing-wen.
Pavel, who is 61 years old and a retired four-star army general, took 58.32% of the vote. He served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 2015 to 2018 and as the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces from 2012 to 2015.
Pavel ran on a platform of closer cooperation with NATO allies, support for Ukraine, and greater involvement in the European Union.
After his victory, many people chanted "Pavel na Hrad" (Pavel to the Castle) in the streets. Those were a clear echo of the chants of "Havel na Hrad" that filled the streets in November 1989 when dissident and playwright Václav Havel became the first president of the Czech Republic. Havel was elected after the Velvet Revolution against communist rule.