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Czech PM, president have conflict over gov't resignation

Xinhua, May 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

A serious conflict arose on Thursday between Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and President Milos Zeman who exchanged sharp words at their press conference over the resignation of Sobotka's government.

Zeman prepared the meeting, expecting Sobotka to bring in his resignation, but Sobotka did not do so.

Zeman said the prime minister's secretariat had informed him that Sobotka wanted to arrive at Prague Castle to hand in his resignation, and for this reason, he had prepared the arrangement used in all government resignations.

Sobotka said he had not been informed in advance what sort of ceremony had been prepared and criticised the way he was received.

Sobotka said he'd come for political consultations on the current situation, and he expected Zeman would understand he would resign at the end of the whole government, but would not personally step down before.

Sobotka said he wanted to deliver the resignation in mid-May in writing as previous prime ministers Petr Necas and Jiri Rusnok had done.

Zeman blamed Sobotka for having caused the government crisis, but Sobotka said the crisis had been caused by finance minister Andrej Babis for having failed to explain the circumstances surrounding his business and assets.

Sobotka announced the resignation of his government on Tuesday, after having led the country's coalition government since 2014. Endit