Milos Zeman, 68, has long been one of the more controversial personalities on the left of the Czech political scene.
As leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) he transformed the party's fortunes during the 1990s, leading it to victory in the 1998 elections.
For four years he led a minority government in coalition with the conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS), doing a deal with the opposition to remain in power.
For this he stood accused by his opponents of forming a de facto grand coalition that emasculated the opposition and harmed Czech politics. A series of scandals ensued.
Provocative remarks about the German minority expelled after the war caused then German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to cancel a visit. Zeman has reheated those sentiments for the presidential poll.
Conflict with his own party followed when after leaving office as prime minister he campaigned for the presidency in the 2003 elections, and he left the CSSD.
A devoted European, he backs a joint foreign and defence policy for the European Union, while calling on the EU to focus on major tasks and give up on regulating items like light bulbs.