Presidential elections were held in the Czech Republic in January 2013, the country's first direct election for the presidency.[1][2] No candidate received a majority of the votes in the first round on 11–12 January, so a second round runoff election was held on 25–26 January. Nine individuals secured enough signatures or support of parliamentarians to become official candidates for the office. Miloš Zeman of the Party of Civic Rights (SPOZ) and Karel Schwarzenberg of TOP 09 qualified for the second round,[3] which was won by Zeman with 54.8% of the vote, compared to Schwarzenberg's 45.2%.[4][5] Zeman assumed office in March 2013 after being sworn in.