Czech Culture Minister Oto Klempíř criticised for partisan attacks on President

Oto Klempíř, serving as Czech Minister of Culture and member of the Motoristé party, has drawn criticism for his political conduct. In May 2022, during the presidential campaign, Klempíř messaged former diplomat Jiří Šedivý offering to help candidate Petr Pavel, stating he could "beat Babiš". After Pavel’s campaign, Klempíř switched his support to former prime minister Andrej Babiš, later describing Babiš as the strongest candidate.

Commentators note that Klempíř and two civil servants from the Ministry of the Environment have used public funds to launch partisan attacks on President Petr Pavel, violating standards of civil service conduct. The controversy has been described as a "frackocracy" and highlights tensions within the Babiš‑led government.

The dispute reflects broader concerns about political interference by government officials and the use of taxpayer money for partisan purposes.