Senate speaker requests prognosis on Zeman’s health from office chief

The speaker of the Czech Senate, Miloš Vystrčil, has asked the head of President Miloš Zeman’s office, Vratislav Mynář, for a prognosis on the head of state’s health. Mr. Zeman is currently hospitalised in Prague with an unidentified chronic illness.

Mr. Vystrčil said on Tuesday that senators were concerned about whether the president’s health allowed him to fulfil the duties of his office. He said Mr. Mynář had not yet provided the general information that members of the upper house expected.

Mr. Zeman, who is 77, has neuropathy of the feet that has left him wheelchair-bound, as well as type two diabetes.

Media outlets have reported that he also has ascites (the abnormal build-up of fluid in the abdomen), while ex-president Vaclav Klaus has said he suffers from a liver problem.