Czech President Pavel files constitutional suit against government over NATO summit delegation

Czech President Petr Pavel has lodged a complaint with the Constitutional Court to challenge Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s decision to exclude him from the Czech delegation to the NATO summit in Ankara on 7‑8 July. Pavel argues that the constitution grants the president the authority to represent the country abroad, and that the government’s move infringes on the separation of powers. The court is set to hear the urgent case on Wednesday.

The dispute is linked to broader tensions over defence spending: Pavel has criticised the government's cut of the defence budget to 1.8 % of GDP, below NATO’s 2 % target, while Babiš has acknowledged that the country will not meet the NATO benchmark this year. The outcome will determine who will lead the Czech delegation at the summit and could set a precedent for presidential‑government relations in the Czech Republic.