Andrej Babiš escalates clash with President Petr Pavel

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has intensified his public dispute with President Petr Pavel, repeatedly accusing the head of state of conducting a “hidden war” against the government. After the NATO summit in Ankara, where Babiš and Pavel led separate Czech delegations, Babiš described the summit as a “shame” and blamed Pavel for complicating the country’s foreign policy.

Babiš has announced that, to prevent Pavel’s re‑election in the January 2028 presidential race, the governing coalition must find a suitable candidate. He has also used his TV programme to list alleged betrayals by the president, stating, “the president has been waging a hidden war for a long time.”

The conflict is reflected in the coalition’s dynamics: Babiš gives partners such as the Motorist party and SPD space for political theatre while retaining real decision‑making power, and he has warned that the president’s actions threaten the stability of the government.