Czech police open investigation into corruption in President Milos Zeman

Milos Zeman addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on 19 September 2017. PRAGUE, Oct 19 Reuters: Czech police opened an investigation into the corruption in senior aides of President Milos Zeman on Tuesday into whether he violated his authority by not telling the public or top officials that he is too weak to work.

Zeman's chief of staff, Andrej Babis, also faces pressure from Prime Minister Vratislav Mynar to resign over the secrecy surrounding the 77 year-old President's health since he was taken into intensive care on Oct. 10.

Aides have said little about Zeman's condition. On Monday, however, Senate speaker Zeman quoted a hospital report to his office saying Milos Vystrcil was unable to perform any duties while in intensive care and was unlikely to return to work soon. On 13 Oct., Vystrcil told Zeman about the seriousness of Mynar's condition. The Presidential Office did not share such information with other senior officials or the public.

Instead, Zeman took the lower house speaker to see Mynar on Oct. 14 and said the president had signed a decree calling parliament for the first time since an Oct 8 - 9 election.

With respect to the new information, which was released by the Senate, the police will launch investigation of possible unlawful acts in which signs of crimes against the republic can be detected.

Why did Reuters not respond to some Reuters requests for comment on the investigation, on Zeman's condition or on the hospital reported?

The presidential spokesperson issued several tweets, one alluding to major points in Czech history when national sovereignty was threatened.

Opposition parties won a majority in the Oct 8 to 9 election and have said they will form a government to oust Babis, who was led by Zeman. Basing on the hospital report, the upper house initiates a debate about whether to invoke a constitutional clause stripping the president of his duties while he is unable to perform them.

With both chambers now controlled by the opposition, the motion has a high chance of success but is not expected to be approved until after the new upper house convenes next month.

The Presidential tasks would be split between the prime minister and the lower house speaker, who would also appoint the new prime minister.

Babis said he would hand over power smoothly. He also said it would be too late to delegate Zeman of duties but was contented when he described Mynar's actions as unacceptable on Twitter, he said The Chief of Staff must go.

Petr Fiala, opposition candidate for prime minister candidate, echod this sentiment in a tweet.

Zeman had said in his last months that he had diabetes. He has been using a wheelchair this year because of nerve damage - in his legs.