Tattooed professor polling strongly in Czech presidential elections Not affiliated with any party, he has campaigned mostly on a platform highlighting graft, the importance of education and the nation's moral standing. "The (political) system is so enchanted with itself that it's lost the ability to self-reflect," he said in an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday. Czechs, he says, "are fed up with this crap." He's proven particularly popular with young voters - and those not yet eligible to cast a ballot. In a mock presidential election at 441 high schools across the country a month before the vote, Mr Franz won by a landslide, garnering more than 40 per cent of some 60,000 votes. He's tipped to win around 11 per cent in the first round on Friday and Saturday - not enough to make the runoffs. But he may end up kingmaker as the leading candidates - former prime ministers Jan Fischer and Milos Zeman - would be eager to pick up his following if the vote goes to a second round. Karel Strachota, who organised the school ballot, said young people no longer identify with existing parties. Franz is seen as "a candidate who is not tainted by politics," he said. They look with sympathy at his nonconformity and the way he presents himself. And, perhaps surprisingly, few take issue with his tattoos. "Personally, I wouldn't vote for him - but (the tattoos) are not a problem at all," said Tomas Pistora, a 33-year-old IT specialist from Prague. The young people prefer him because they don't have a better choice. "The tattoo doesn't make any difference," said Jakub Fisera, a student in Prague, adding a lack of experience in politics was more an issue. For the first time, the Czech president will be elected in a popular vote - a new system that makes it possible for independent candidates like Franz to run for the largely ceremonial post. A total of nine candidates are running.