Czech PM says he will not resign amid political spat
Xinhua, May 5, 2017 Adjust font size:
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced at a press conference on Friday that he would no longer resign amid a political spat that has gripped the nation.
Instead, he proposed sacking Finance Minister Andrej Babis as of May 9 to resolve the ongoing political crisis. Sobotka said he expects Czech President Milos Zeman to dismiss Babis without any delay.
On Tuesday, Sobotka announced his resignation over the business dealings of Babis, who is suspected of tax evasion and influence peddling in his media houses.
Babis, a leading Czech businessman who has denied wrongdoing, is a rival of Sobotka's leftist Social Democrats and heads a centrist movement tipped to win upcoming parliamentary elections in October.
On Friday, Sobotka said he changed his mind on resigning after President Zeman only accepted his personal resignation and not the entire government's.
Zeman said he would prefer the government to stay in power until October but without Sobotka.
His office said Zeman will "act responsibly" and wait for the prime minister's move. Enditem