Ailing Czech president Milos Zeman can’t perform duties, prognosis ‘very uncertain’
- A letter from the hospital where the 77-year-old leader is being treated says his return to work in the next few weeks is ‘very unlikely’
- Although the office is largely ceremonial, the Czech president has a key role in establishing a new government
Health problems were preventing Czech President Milos Zeman from carrying out his duties, an official said Monday.
The speaker of the Czech Senate, Milos Vystrcil, said that a letter he received from the Prague military hospital where Zeman is being treated says the 77-year-old president is unable to work.
According to the letter signed by the hospital’s director, Miroslav Zavoral, Zeman is unable to perform “any working duties for health reasons” and the long-term prognosis is “very uncertain”. It said Zeman’s return to his duties in the next several weeks is “very unlikely”.
Zeman was rushed to the Czech capital’s military hospital on October 10, a day after the election for the lower house of parliament. The hospital previously said Zeman was in an intensive care unit in stable condition, but further details about his health were unknown.
Zeman’s wife said last week that he needs time to recuperate amid uncertainty over whether his condition would affect efforts to form a new government.