Czech govt rejects Japan-born candidate

The government of the Czech Republic has refused to accept a Japanese-born businessman as a candidate for president.Tomio Okamura filed to run in next year's presidential election. He submitted the signatures of over 63,000 people, more than the required 50,000.

The Interior Ministry on Friday decided to reject the application, saying only 35,000 of the signatures are valid. The unacceptable signatures included those without addresses and those of foreigners and minors.

An official for the Okamura campaign says the 40-year-old businessman will consult with lawyers to decide whether to challenge the decision in administrative court.

An opinion poll earlier this month showed Okamura ranking 3rd, with a support rate of 10 percent.

Okamura is a businessman in the Czech Republic engaged in tourism and restaurants. He won a senate seat in October. His father is Japanese and mother is Czech.