Czech PM claims gravely ill president promised he could continue in role

Despite his party losing election, Andrej Babi says he was Milo Zeman's choice to lead next government

Czech politics has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after the billionaire prime minister, Andrej Babi claimed the president had promised him a shot at heading the next government despite being defeated in a general election.

In a statement that was met with widespread scepticism, Babi told journalists thatMilo Zeman, gravely ill in hospital, told him repeatedly" that he would choose him to lead a new administration when the pair met on Sunday, a day after the unexpected poll result.