PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The interim government of the Czech Republic was asked to remain in place until the next election after Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok resigned Tuesday.
Rusnok formally resigned in a meeting with President Milos Zeman at Prague Castle. He then agreed to stay in place until the voters pick a new government, which could happen as soon as October.
The lower house of Parliament refused to approve the government last week. The chamber must now vote to dissolve itself in order to hold an early election and has promised to do so next week.
Talking to reporters after his meeting with the president, Rusnok said he and his Cabinet ministers will make no long-term decisions for the country while they remain in office.
"Our priorities are clear: we are an outgoing government, and our priority is to keep public institutions running and to make sure that public administration works as it should," he said. "That's what we'll do. Whenever we will feel some decisions are required to meet these goals, we will of course make them."
