Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and President Petr Pavel clash over NATO summit delegation

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will lead the Czech government delegation to the NATO summit in Ankara, travelling on Tuesday with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna. President Petr Pavel is also scheduled to attend, travelling shortly after the government party from the same airfield for security reasons. The two delegations will travel separately.

The dispute over the President’s participation lasted months. The Constitutional Court intervened, ordering the government to include Pavel in the delegation. Babiš has repeatedly argued that Pavel’s presence would damage the Czech Republic’s image abroad, claiming the summit would give "soda and a toothbrush" to the country if the President attended. Pavel counters that representing the nation abroad is a constitutional prerogative of the President and that he has attended all NATO summits since taking office.

Both sides have exchanged statements: Babiš says the President’s attendance would "harm" the country, while Pavel demands evidence for the accusations. The government has scheduled an informal dinner with NATO leaders for Babiš and his wife, and a separate North Atlantic Council meeting for the President, though Pavel’s exact program remains undisclosed. The legal challenge and public remarks highlight an escalating political rivalry between the executive and the presidency.