The Academic Senate of Charles University elected professor Jiří Zima as candidate for rector for the 2026–2030 term. Zima, an analytical chemist from the Faculty of Science, bested the current rector, Milena Králíčková, by gaining 40 votes in the second round. Twenty-seven senators voted for Králíčková. The new rector will take office on February 1, 2026, after being appointed by the President of the Czech Republic. All 70 members of the Academic Senate of Charles University voted in the second round. Three votes were invalid. A majority of all votes, i.e., at least 36 votes, was required for election. “I want to be a rector of all the faculties and the entire university community,” Zima told the academic community.
After the results of the second round were announced, the current rector, Milena Králíčková, was the first to speak. “First of all, allow me to congratulate Professor Zima on his election victory and wish him strength, good health, and lots of energy for the next four years. Next, I would like to thank those of you who voted for me. I take this as recognition of the work that has been achieved in recent years,” she said. “Allow me to share a brief reflection: When Senator John McCain lost the 2008 US presidential election to Barack Obama, in what was a rather heated election, he commented in his speech that he called on everyone to love their country and for the two divided camps to unite and work together to care for their country. I, too, would like to ask all of you – after these elections, which in my view were unusual in some respects – to care for Charles University together in the coming years, with love for it,” she said, wishing the university well in the coming period.
“First, I would like to thank the rector for her words, because I will truly seek to be a rector for everyone,” said Jiří Zima, the newly elected candidate for the next head of university, in his following speech. “My feelings can be compared to those I had when I was elected dean of the Faculty of Science: I feel a mixture of joy and responsibility to do my job well. Fortunately, it turned out well. I feel the same way today. I firmly believe that I will be a good rector for you over the next four years. Of course, the rector is not everything; I must rely on my team, and that is what I will do. Thank you for your support, I will truly strive to be a rector for everyone,” he concluded.
Professor Zima graduated in Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Science at Charles University (1975–1980), where he later earned his doctorate (1980), Candidate of Science (1985), docent (1998) and professor (2009) degrees. Since 1985, he worked at the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, where he was involved in teaching, research, and supervising master’s and doctoral theses. From 2006 to 2012, he served as Vice-Dean for Development, and from 2016 to 2024, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Science, Charles University. His election programme is available in PDF format on Zima’s website.
A total of five candidates ran for the position of rector for the period 2026–2030. In addition to the current rector Milena Králíčková and the newly elected candidate for the next rector Jiří Zima, the candidates were Ladislav Krištoufek (Vice-Rector for Scientific and Creative Activities at Charles University), Martin Mihaljevič (geochemist from the Faculty of Science, Charles University), and František Zahálka (kinanthropologist from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University).
