Czech president accepts resignation of PM Babis's govt

PRAGUE -- Czech President Milos Zeman accepted on Wednesday the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babis's minority government at Prague Castle.

At the same time, Zeman assigned Babis's government to govern until the appointment of a new government.

Babis's minority government approved its resignation a week ago as it failed to win the confidence vote of Chamber of Deputies.

On Wednesday, Zeman entrusted Babis with talks on the formation of a new government, and hoped Babis could be successful. He said if he were not re-elected president, he would no longer require a majority of the Chamber of Deputies in support of Babis's new government, and would appoint Babis prime minister again in February before the end of his presidential term on March 8.

Zeman previously said he would give Babis enough time for negotiations about the formation of government during the second try and that he would demand a majority support secured in the Chamber of Deputies from him.

Zeman assigned Babis with the same task after the general election in October 2017.

The second round of Czech Presidential election will begin on Friday, when Zeman will be competing with academic Jiri Drahos.