Lipavský has been instrumental in improving the Czech Republic’s standing on the international political stage but is expected to tender his resignation after Prime Minister Petr Fiala ousted Deputy PM Ivan Bartoš, the leader of the Pirates, for his failure to effectively digitize construction management procedures.

While Lipavský could still remain in his post as a non-partisan minister, the Pirates look likely to withdraw from the coalition following an internal vote that is due to close on Monday evening.

While Fiala has said he was not breaking up the coalition, the Pirates have said they have been left with little choice but to leave after Bartoš was fired over the phone. “When someone sacks the chairman of a coalition party in such a way, the departure of the entire party from the government is a logical step,” said Bartoš over the weekend.

The exit of the Pirates will slash Fiala’s narrow majority in the 200-seat assembly from 108 to 104.

With parliamentary elections set for October of next year, Fiala’s government finds itself in a fragile position after coalition parties performed poorly in the regional elections last weekend.

The country’s opposition, ANO, registered a landslide victory after winning 10 of 13 regions and around 35% of the vote. Fiala’s ODS came in second with just 6%. Faring particularly badly, the Pirates lost 96 of their 99 seats in the regional assemblies.

President Petr Pavel is due to meet leaders from the five coalition parties today to discuss the government’s stability.