UPDATE 2 (June 19): The senior ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) nominated Chamber of Deputies speaker Miroslava Nemcova as the new prime minister. Nemcova is acceptable for the party's coalition partners, TOP 09 and LIDEM.
Outgoing PM Petr Necas resigned on Monday after a massive illegal spying and corruption scandal.
UPDATE 1 (June 17): President Zeman accepted Necas's resignation and asked him to continue his duties until his successor is appointed. Zeman said that he will meet with the leaders of major political parties on Friday 21 June to discuss the situation.
The original story is below:
Prague - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas is expected to hand his resignation to President Zeman later today, at 6 pm CT. The reason of Necas's step is an illegal spying scandal of his top aide, Jana Nagyova, that erupted last week and shook Czech politics. Necas will also resign as chairman of the senior government Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and said he will quit politics altogether.
Czech PM resigns over his aide's illegal spying scandal
State officials, ex-lawmakers detained in massive raid
After the resignation, it will be up to President Zeman to decide how to end the ongoing political crisis. Zeman may appoint the next PM from the ODS, which would allow the current coalition to continue. Naturally, this scenario is preferred by the ruling coalition. Sources say that the ODS wants Industry Minister and the party's first deputy chairman Martin Kuba to become the next prime minister. Most regional organizations of the ODS prefer this candidate. Moreover, Milos Zeman has relatively close relations to Kuba. Another candidate is Justice Minister and ODS Deputy Chairman Pavel Blazek. Kuba confirmed at a press conference today that the party wants the current coalition to continue under a different prime minister. Pavel Blazek refused to name the possible candidates, saying that the party is currently looking for somebody "who wants and is wanted (to become the new PM)".
Zeman may also appoint a non-partisan official to establish a caretaker government. The Czech Republic had a caretaker government between 2009 and 2010, under Prime Minister Jan Fischer.
Another option, preferred by the left-wing opposition, is to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies and call a snap election in 90 days. After meeting with the president earlier today, Necas said that Zeman does not prefer this option.
