Czechia (Czech Republic)
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:24 pm
It seems Czechia (as the Czech Republic, one part of the Soviet era country of Czechoslovakia, prefers to be named) is experiencing some political excitement
There was an election for seats in the House of Deputies (the lower house in their bicameral system) in early October 2021.
The previous government was a centrist euroskeptic populist party, ANO, Action for Dissatisfied Citizens, led by a billionaire, Andrej Babiš, who was the Prime Minister (i.e. the head of government).
ANO is still the most popular single party with 27.1% of there popular vote but Together, a center-right coalition of 3 parties, won 27.8%. Clearly both of these are under 50%.
The latest wrinkle is that the President, Miloš Zeman, has been taken to hospital, apparently very ill.
As in most European countries (excluding France) the head of state is a largely ceremonial post, occupied either by a king of queen (in the monarchies) or a president (in the republics). The one key substantive duty the head of state has is to oversee the transfer of power following an election, typically a rubber-stamp job if there is a clear result, more complex if not.
Miloš Zeman (the President) is a backer of Andrej Babiš (outgoing Prime Minister) and had indicated he would work to keep ANO/Babiš in power, whereas opposition parties say ANO lost the support of the electorate so they should have first go at forming a coalition government.
We await developments!
(And no, I have no connection with Czechia, never been there and I certainly don't understand their language.)
Some sources:
AP News: Czech president hospitalized; Could affect forming new govt
The Guardian: Czech president in hospital after shock election defeat for PM
There was an election for seats in the House of Deputies (the lower house in their bicameral system) in early October 2021.
The previous government was a centrist euroskeptic populist party, ANO, Action for Dissatisfied Citizens, led by a billionaire, Andrej Babiš, who was the Prime Minister (i.e. the head of government).
ANO is still the most popular single party with 27.1% of there popular vote but Together, a center-right coalition of 3 parties, won 27.8%. Clearly both of these are under 50%.
The latest wrinkle is that the President, Miloš Zeman, has been taken to hospital, apparently very ill.
As in most European countries (excluding France) the head of state is a largely ceremonial post, occupied either by a king of queen (in the monarchies) or a president (in the republics). The one key substantive duty the head of state has is to oversee the transfer of power following an election, typically a rubber-stamp job if there is a clear result, more complex if not.
Miloš Zeman (the President) is a backer of Andrej Babiš (outgoing Prime Minister) and had indicated he would work to keep ANO/Babiš in power, whereas opposition parties say ANO lost the support of the electorate so they should have first go at forming a coalition government.
We await developments!
(And no, I have no connection with Czechia, never been there and I certainly don't understand their language.)
Some sources:
AP News: Czech president hospitalized; Could affect forming new govt
The Guardian: Czech president in hospital after shock election defeat for PM