“The explanation for [Zeman’s] hospitalization is issues from the diseases for which he has been receiving therapies,” he mentioned, including he couldn’t but speak in regards to the analysis.
Video from outdoors the presidential chateau in Lány, west of Prague, confirmed an ambulance leaving the compound with a police escort and limousines.
The 77-year-old Zeman has been affected by a spread of well being issues over current years. On recommendation of his physician, he voted within the nation’s common election Friday from the presidential retreat, as a substitute of at a college in Prague as was beforehand scheduled.
President Zeman’s admission to hospital comes at a pivotal second in deciding the Czech Republic’s new authorities.
Zeman was taken to hospital shortly after talking with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš — a day after a common election the place Babiš’s ruling get together ANO appeared to have misplaced its grip on energy, and the 2 opposition coalitions who gained a majority mentioned they deliberate to kind the subsequent authorities collectively.
Zeman has not mentioned when or whom can be requested to kind the subsequent authorities. However he has beforehand indicated he would ask the chief of the biggest single get together — not any coalition.
Complicating issues additional, Babiš’s ruling ANO get together gained essentially the most seats amongst particular person events — however has no clear path to a majority within the decrease home.
Dramatic day on the poll field
Andrej Babiš’s ANO get together was edged out by the narrowest of margins by the 2 opposition coalitions attempting to unseat him, in response to the Czech Statistical Workplace.
The middle-right alliance Spolu (Collectively) gained essentially the most votes with 27.79% of the ballots, adopted by Babiš’s ANO get together with 27.12%, and the centrist PirStan coalition on 15.62%.
“We’re the change. You’re the change,” Spolu coalition chief Petr Fiala mentioned Saturday, claiming victory earlier than a cheering crowd.
The chief of the PirStan coalition, Ivan Bartoš, mentioned talks with Spolu “on the chances of forming a brand new authorities” would doubtless start on Saturday.
“The dominance of Andrej Babiš is over, and the democratic events have proven that the period of chaos will most likely be behind us,” Bartoš mentioned.
After successful a mixed 108 seats within the 200-seat decrease home on Saturday, talks between the 2 coalitions who campaigned in opposition to Babiš ended with the leaders of the 5 events within the mixed coalitions signing a memorandum to work collectively to kind the subsequent authorities.
A brand new authorities would distance the Czech Republic from populist events in Hungary and Poland, which have more and more come beneath hearth for rolling again European Union democratic values.
The tight election additionally comes simply days after a Pandora Papers investigation into controversial monetary dealings by Babiš and different world leaders. The report claimed the Czech prime minister secretly moved $22 million by offshore corporations to buy an property on the French Riviera in 2009, earlier than he entered politics.
Responding on Twitter, Babiš mentioned he had “by no means executed something illegal.”
A businessman who’s value about $3.4 billion, in response to Bloomberg, Babiš has railed in opposition to the elite since he turned prime minister in 2017, vowing to crack down on tax avoidance.
However his premiership has been dogged by long-standing allegations of economic impropriety.
CNN’s John Mastrini reported from Prague, Sheena McKenzie wrote in London. Sarah Dean contributed to this report.
