After weeks of uncertainty, the Czech election winner Petr Fiala is getting closer to taking over the business of government.

On the one hand, the five previous opposition parties, which have a majority in the future House of Representatives, agreed this week on a coalition agreement.

It is to be officially signed next Monday along with a list of ministers.

On the other hand, it was reported on Thursday that the seriously ill President Miloš Zeman could leave the intensive care unit in the Prague military hospital.

The clinic's management announced that his condition had improved so much that he was transferred to the rehabilitation department.

Stephan Löwenstein

Political correspondent based in Vienna.

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The formation of a government does not require an “order” from the president, as is occasionally mentioned, but the prime minister and other members of the government can only take office if they are appointed by the head of state.

The constitution also provides that the president accepts the resignation of the previous government.

These seemingly formal questions are politically charged by the fact that in the past Zeman had kept Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in office despite the failed vote of confidence and, before the current election, had given the impression that he wanted to do so again.

Uncertainty about the state of health of the president

Zeman has been in hospital since October 10, the day after the general election. At times it was considered uncertain whether he would be able to recover enough to be able to carry out his official duties again. At the insistence of the chairman of the second chamber of parliament (Senate) in particular, the attending physicians announced in mid-October that the 77-year-old head of state was currently unfit for office and the future prospects for it were uncertain. As a result, the Senate took the first steps to determine Zeman's incapacity. So far, however, there has been no vote in either of the two chambers of parliament.

If Zeman can now receive visitors again and officially sign documents, this scenario is obsolete. On Thursday, however, history seemed to repeat itself: Babiš announced that he still could not visit Zeman because the hospital did not allow any more visitors. However, this would be necessary for receiving a declaration of resignation (which Babiš explicitly did not mention). For the time being, Fiala could only say that he expected to be received by Zeman as soon as possible. It is hard to imagine that this confusion will drag on for a long time after Zeman is no longer in the intensive care unit. However, as a precaution, Senate Chairman Miloš Vystrčil reminded of the meeting of the committee responsible for a declaration of incapacity for next week.If Zeman has not undertaken any official act by then, such as accepting Babiš 'resignation, information will be requested again about the state of health of the president.

Vystrčil belongs to the ODS, whose chairman is Fiala, the candidate of the previous opposition for the office of prime minister.

The five parties entered into two electoral alliances, one conservative and economically liberal (from the parties ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09) and one progressively oriented (pirates and mayor's party).

Together, the two alliances have 108 of the 200 seats in the House of Representatives.

Extremely heterogeneous in their political orientations, they are united by their desire to replace Babiš from the government.

Babiš is criticized for allegations of subsidy fraud and conflict of interest.

How can the Pirate Party be involved?

In the Pirate Party in particular, however, there is unrest because it can only send four members to the new parliament. It was on the joint list with the mayor's party (STAN). However, thanks to skilful preferential vote campaigns by the voters, many STAN candidates were ranked up front. There are reports about efforts in the Pirate Party to raise their own profile in the opposition, especially since their four MPs would no longer be mathematically necessary for a majority against Babiš.

The coalition agreement, the outline of which has now been leaked, would at least accommodate the pirates in terms of power politics. Obviously, this is intended to strengthen the position of the party leadership vis-à-vis the grassroots. Accordingly, three ministerial posts are planned for the Pirate Party, including reportedly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In order to meet the needs of an expected five future coalition parties, the size of the government will be expanded from 15 to 18 cabinet members. Ministerial posts (“without portfolio”) for legislation, for EU affairs as well as for science, research and innovation are being created. Babiš, mentally apparently now in the future opposition role, commented: "The new coalition has promised to save, but in fact it is doing the opposite."