Babiš says Zeman told him Sunday he could try to form new govt.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Tuesday that President Miloš Zeman told him on Sunday that he would task him with trying to form a new government, as the leader of the biggest single party after the weekend’s elections. He said it was up to him whether he accepted the head of state’s offer, which the president had made "repeatedly".

Mr. Babiš did not mention this on Sunday, after he visited the president’s residency. A short time later Mr. Zeman was taken to hospital in a mobile ICU.

The ANO leader would appear unlikely to be able to form a government capable of winning confidence in the lower house.

Two electoral coalitions comprising five parties in total are in talks on creating a cabinet and have a comfortable majority in the Chamber of Deputies.