Rusnok’s government is sworn in

An interim government headed by Jiří Rusnok, an economist and adviser to President Miloš Zeman, was sworn in by the president at Prague Castle on Wednesday. The caretaker government will have 30 days to win a confidence vote in the lower house of Parliament. So far, most parliamentary parties have said they will not support this government. If it fails to win backing, President Miloš Zeman can task a new prime minister with forming a new cabinet.

During the swearing-in ceremony the president said that one of the main goals of the government was to prevent political influence in ongoing police investigations and to secure the independence of the court system.

The previous government of Petr Nečas, which was supposed to remain in power until next spring, fell last month after the prime minister’s close aide was charged in connection with a spying and corruption scandal.