President Miloš Zeman accepted today’s resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government. At the same time, the ANO and CSSD cabinets commissioned them to temporarily hold office until the appointment of a new government. Prague Castle informed about it in a press release today. Zeman commissioned ODS chairman Petr Fiala, the Spolu coalition (ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09) and PirSTAN signed a coalition agreement the day before to compile a new cabinet.
Zeman has been hospitalized at the Central Military Hospital for the past month, and visits are unlikely until Monday. Therefore, Babiš did not hand over a letter to Zeman deciding to resign his minority cabinet, but sent it this morning. According to Babiš, the cabinet will continue to work in resignation, and on Friday and the beginning of next week it plans to negotiate measures against the spread of covid-19.
The government resigned in accordance with the constitution the day after the end of the inaugural meeting of the new House, a month after the parliamentary elections. Constitutional lawyers disagree as to whether Babiš should have surrendered his resignation to Zeman, or whether a written handover is sufficient. At the end of November 2017, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (CSSD) did so, sending his resignation to Prague Castle in writing. It was the first time that the outgoing Czech Prime Minister did not come to the President in person.
The ending cabinet was appointed in June 2018. YES had previously concluded agreements on a coalition with the CSSD and on tolerance with the KSCM. In mid-July, the government gained the confidence of the House. The new government of Together and PirSTAN will have a majority of 108 votes in the House. Its creation has already been approved by all parties represented, with the exception of the Pirates, who will decide on ratification from Friday to Monday evening.