Indirect presidential elections started in the Czech Republic on 8 February 2008. Incumbent president Vaclav Klaus, former prime minister and leader of IDU member party ODS, on 15 February finally won 141 ballots in a joint session of some 280 MPs and senators. The 66-year-old thus won just enough votes to beat his main rival, Czech-American economics professor Jan Svejnar, and secure five more years at Prague Castle. It took two elections and six rounds of voting to finally getting the required majority.