Mr Zeman, 73, won on his anti-immigration and anti-EU platform, exposing the deep division in Czech society between those who have benefitted from rapid transformation since joining the EU and those who feel that economic growth has passed them by.

His win, albeit by 51.37 per cent to opponents Mr Drahos’s 48.62 per cent, is bad news for Brussels since President Zeman is constantly in disagreement with the EU, particularly regarding migrant quotas and sanctions against Russia.

Liberal Mr Drahos is firmly pro-EU, and his campaign was badly damaged after he was portrayed as a supporter of mass migration.

Mr Zeman’s team launched a billboard campaign with the message “Stop immigrants and Drahos! this country is ours!”

Milan Nic, from the German Council on Foreign Relations, told the Financial Times: “Zeman’s victory is another milepost in the gift in central European attitudes towards the EU and a sign that there are not many figureheads within the region who are easy partners for western Europe

“It will make the EU’s east-west divide more pronounced.”

The Czech Republic is one of the most Eurosceptic countries in the EU, and surveys show approval for membership of the bloc is at an all time low.

The possibility of a referendum on EU membership was raised during the election campaign, and was something he called for after the Brexit referendum.

During a TV debate, Mr Zeman said Czech citizens should have a direct say on political issues and that he is not opposed to a referendum on EU membership.

He said: “Brexit is a decision that must be respected.”

Of his comments, Political analyst Michael Romancov said: "Zeman never questioned the Czech membership in the EU, but on the other hand he said he would welcome a referendum on exit and in practice he significantly deviated from both EU and NATO.”

He also blocked the Czech Republic’s planned entry to the eurozone during his first term in office. 

During this election campaign he declared he was for the adoption of the common currency, in principle, but he does not want to allow "Czech taxpayers to pay Greek debt”.

Head of the far right ant-immigration SPD welcomed Mr Zeman’s victory.

Speaking to Czech TV he said: “It is obvious that there are more and more citizens in the Czech Republic who are able to think for themselves.

“President Zeman promotes direct democracy, is anti-immigrant, is anti-Islamic, is patriotic and he is a warrior against international terrorism.”

Mr Zeman’s win comes after antoi-EU Andrej Babis was sworn in as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister last December.

His party, Action for Dissatisfied Citizens, pledged a fight against illegal migrants entering Europe.

After being appointed, he said: “Our position on migration is clear. 

“Our country should be more active and propose to the member states and the European commission a solution to illegal migration [sic]. And that solution is a fight against human traffickers.”

Atlantic Council’s Stefano Stefanini told Politico: “Zeman got in thanks to strong support from a really racist and nationalist far-right wing that has an anti-Europe DNA; it joined forces with Babiš’ populists but it is much worse.”

There are also rumours that Mr Zeman allegedly received funding from Moscow for his election campaign after it was found at least one-third of his funding came from undeclared donors. 

His team has denied Moscow played any part in the election.