Czech President Appoints Petr Fiala as Country's New Prime Minister

A new coalition of five parties recently reached an agreement about the composition of a new government. The appointment of the new head of the government is taking place while maintaining social distancing after the country's president, Milos Zeman, tested positive for COVID-19.

Czech President Milos Zeman has appointed Petr Fiala of the Civic Democratic Party as the nation's new prime minister.

The president held the ceremony from behind a transparent plastic barrier due to being recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

"I appoint you the head of the government and wish you success in this position for the benefit of all citizens of the Czech Republic", President Zeman said.

Fiala will lead a coalition government, which also includes the centrist Christian Democrats, liberal-conservative party TOP 09, the centrist Pirate Party, as well as the centrist-liberal Mayors and Independents Party (STAN).

The coalition was formed after more than a month of talks that followed the 9 October general election in the country during which Fiala's Civic Democratic Party (ODS) gained an upper hand over the ANO movement. The latter used to control the biggest portion of the nation's Chamber of Deputies, the lower chamber of parliament.

ODS secured 27.8% of the overall vote, while ANO gained 27.1% - down 2.5% compared to the previous election in 2017. The ODS-led bloc of five parties controls 108 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. ODS, TOP 09, STAN, the Christian Democrats, and Pirates also jointly control 65 of the 81 seats in the upper chamber, the Senate.