The leader of the Czech opposition must form a government

A month after the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, President Milos Zeman announced his support for the rapid formation of the government. In a radio interview today, the 77-year-old said he was ready to task the head of the opposition Spolo (Together) coalition, Peter Fiala, with forming a government, a day after he was released from the intensive care unit. Fayala announced a five-party coalition of the former opposition.

In the October 9 elections, Fiala’s centre-right Spolo became the strongest force ahead of Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ populist party ANO. Together with the two-party Liberal Left coalition led by the Pirate Party, it would secure a majority of 108 of the 200 seats in Parliament.

“didn’t look good”

Before the elections, Zeman announced that he would task the head of the single strongest party – and thus Papis – with forming the government. But a day after the elections, the head of the afflicted country for a long time was forced to intensive care. Due to his poor health, the question of his ability to work was raised in the meantime.

“When they took me to the hospital, it was not so good,” the 77-year-old told radio station Frijvans 1. But now he’s fine again. For his decision not to assign his confidant Babis to form a government, Zeman gave “a simple reason”: “No one wants to negotiate with him.” The billionaire had already announced that he would be joining the opposition three weeks ago.