Ailing Czech president Miloš Zeman transferred from hospital ICU to standard room

President Miloš Zeman has been transferred from an intensive care unit (ICU) to a standard room, the Central Military Hospital, where he was admitted several weeks ago, announced on Thursday.

The Czech head of state was rushed to hospital on October 10, a day after parliamentary elections, due to complications linked to an undisclosed chronic illness.

A medical council recently formed to assess the president’s health is due to meet on Friday and report their conclusions next week, likely after November 8, when the lower house of Parliament convenes for its first post-election session.

Citing President Zeman’s apparent incapacity to carry out the duties of his office – which include naming someone to try to form a government – some politicians have called for his powers to be transferred temporarily to other state officials, via Article 66 of the Czech Constitution.