Miloš Zeman’s sudden hospitalization creates political uncertainty following Andrej Babiš’s defeat in the general election.
The Czech Republic is grappling with political instability and the possibility of a power vacuum after Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s surprise defeat in the general election, which was followed by the hospitalization of his key ally, President Miloš Zeman.
In a stunning turn of events, Babiš’s populist party, Action for Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) 2011, finished second in the election, trailing behind the center-right Spolu alliance. Spolu had previously vowed not to cooperate with Babiš but quickly agreed to begin coalition talks with a liberal-left faction, Piráti-STAN. The two blocs together secured 108 out of 200 seats in the chamber of deputies, leaving Babiš in a significantly weakened position.
The political fallout deepened on Sunday when President Zeman, Babiš’s staunch supporter, was rushed to the hospital after meeting with the prime minister to discuss the election results. Zeman, 77, was admitted to the intensive care unit due to complications from a chronic illness, though the specifics of his condition were not disclosed.
Images captured by Czech media showed Zeman, who has struggled with various health issues including neuropathy and type 2 diabetes, being wheeled into the hospital, unconscious and supported by a bodyguard. His hospitalization has fueled concerns over his ability to fulfill his constitutional duty of overseeing post-election coalition talks.
Zeman’s sudden health crisis raises fears of further political uncertainty, as he has been a powerful figure in Czech politics, particularly in supporting Babiš’s leadership.
