Andrej Babiš publicly attacks President Petr Pavel after Ankara NATO summit

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš launched a harsh verbal assault on President Petr Pavel, accusing the head of state of lying and conducting a "hidden war" against the government. Babiš made the remarks in a podcast following the NATO summit in Ankara, where he felt the Czech delegation was sidelined and his speaking time curtailed.

He suggested that the president could be replaced and hinted at the possibility of running for the presidency himself, while questioning the president’s re‑election prospects. The conflict was framed as part of a broader political struggle, with Babiš also criticizing the use of public‑opinion polls in governance and warning that democratic standards in the Czech Republic were under threat.

The statements have intensified tensions between the ruling coalition and the presidency ahead of upcoming elections, raising concerns about political stability and the conduct of democratic institutions in the Czech Republic.