Senate committee against using constitution to suspend Zeman’s powers

The Czech Senate’s Constitutional Committee says that the upper house should not take action to suspend the powers of President Miloš Zeman unless his health state worsens or he becomes unable to carry out key duties related to the change of government. The committee’s recommendation was relayed to the media by chairman Zdeněk Hraba on Tuesday.

However, if doctors say that Mr. Zeman is no longer able to execute the office of president, the Senate should immediately activate the constitutional article under which his powers would be suspended, the committee said.

Legislators discussed the possible invoking of article 66 after the head of state was taken into hospital on October 10. After several weeks in intensive care he was moved to a regular room.