Voice of America
26 Nov 2021, 04:07 GMT+10
PRAGUE - Czech President Milos Zeman was readmitted to a hospital late Thursday after he tested positive for COVID-19. He'd left the Prague military hospital only hours before, following more than a month's treatment for an unspecified illness.
The presidential office said Zeman was tested after he arrived at his official residence in Lany, west of Prague, in the afternoon. His official program was postponed, and it was unclear whether Zeman would be able to swear in the country's new prime minister as scheduled Friday - a process already long delayed because of the president's previous hospitalization.
Zeman, 77, was rushed to the hospital on October 10, a day after the election for the lower house of parliament, to be treated in an intensive care unit. His condition was attributed to an unspecified chronic disease.
The hospital said Thursday that it would have preferred Zeman to remain hospitalized, but accepted his decision to leave because of 'significant improvement' in his condition.
The president had planned to recuperate at Lany.
Zeman is a heavy smoker and drinker who has suffered from diabetes. He has trouble walking and has been using a wheelchair.
As president, Zeman has a key role in establishing a new government following the election. On Friday, he had been scheduled to swear in Petr Fiala, the leader of a coalition that won the election, as the country's new prime minister.
New partnership
A three-party, liberal-conservative coalition known as Together, composed of the Civic Democratic Party, Christian Democrats and the TOP 09 party, led in the election with a 27.8% share of the vote.
Together teamed up with a liberal coalition made up of the Pirate Party and STAN - a group of mayors and independent candidates - which came in third place with 15.6%.
The new partnership will hold 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament, relegating populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his centrist ANO (YES) movement to the opposition.
The five parties have signed a deal to rule together. It wasn't immediately clear when Zeman might appoint Fiala and his entire government.
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationENNIS, Texas: A man died, and three of his family members were injured when their RV flipped several times during a strong storm at...
One halcyon spring day in 1903, the 69-year-old anatomist and naturalist Dr. James Bell Pettigrew sat at the top of a sloping street...
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida: Air Force fighter jets have stopped a civilian plane that entered restricted airspace near Donald Trump's...
CHICAGO/WASHINGTON, D.C.: Farmers and food groups across the U.S. are laying off workers, stopping investments, and struggling to get...
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota: A new South Dakota law banning the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines has cast doubt on...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Officials working on diversity and inclusion programs at the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin City Council and Cluid Housing have unveiled plans to transform a vacant site in Cabra into an affordable rental...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Mark Carney, Canada's incoming prime minister, has announced plans to renounce his Irish and British citizenships...
DUBLIN, Ireland: An all-female crew is embarking on a challenging Arctic expedition to raise awareness and funds for women's heart...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The United States has withdrawn from the board of a U.N. climate fund designed to help poor countries deal with...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The Department of Justice is on track to issue a record number of deportation orders in 2025, with over 700 orders...
(Photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Jack Draper earned one of the biggest wins of his...