Prague Castle to comment on President Zeman’s plans for post-election government

The Office of the President is expected to comment on Wednesday on how the ailing head of state, Miloš Zeman, plans to proceed in forming a post-election government.

President Zeman, 77, has been in the intensive care unit of the Central Military Hospital since early on Sunday afternoon, shortly after meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, whose ANO party narrowly lost the elections to the opposition coalition Spolu (Together).

Previously, the president had said he would ask the chairman of the party that won the most votes, in this case ANO – and not any coalition – to try to form a new government.

However, Spolu and the Pirate-Mayors coalition together won 108 seats in the 200-member lower house of Parliament, leaving Mr Babiš with no chance of winning a confidence vote.

Prague Castle spokesman Jiří Ovčáček said that President Zeman has been monitoring the political situation and is acquainted with the latest events, and his office will shortly make his views known.