Petr Fiala named new Czech PM by COVID-stricken president

Right-winger Petr Fiala was named the Czech Republic's new prime minister on Nov. 28 in an unusual ceremony, with wheelchair-bound President Milos Zeman speaking from behind a plastic barrier because he has COVID-19.

Fiala, a bearded, bespectacled former political scientist, will face the urgent task of grappling with one of the world's highest COVID infection rates including a case of the new Omicron variant.

"I am convinced we will soon have a strong and stable government," Fiala said at the ceremony.

Speaking with difficulty, Zeman said he aimed to wrap up meetings with possible ministers by December 13 "and we can then prepare the appointment of the government".

"I suppose the whole government could be appointed in the middle of December. That's a realistic date," Fiala said.

Fiala teamed his Civic Democratic Party with two smaller parties to form the Together alliance, which came first in last month's general election.

The grouping, which includes the centrist Christian Democrats and the center-right TOP 09 parties, narrowly beat the ANO movement of outgoing populist billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The alliance has since forged a coalition with two centrist parties - the Mayors and Independents, and the Pirate Party - to secure a majority of 108 votes in the 200-seat parliament.

The five parties have agreed on the composition of the future government and on a policy statement.

Post-election talks were held without the 77-year-old president, who was taken to hospital by ambulance on October 10, a day after the election, to be treated for liver problems.

Widely known as a chain smoker and a keen drinker, Zeman suffers from hearing loss and diabetic neuropathy which has left him...