Czech President Pavel sues over exclusion from NATO summit in Ankara

Czech President Petr Pavel has filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court seeking a ruling that he has the right to attend the NATO summit in Ankara on 7‑8 July. The president says the government’s decision to send only Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the defence and foreign ministers, and to exclude him from the delegation violates the constitution’s provision that the head of state represents the country abroad.

Babiš told the media he blocked Pavel’s participation because the summit would centre on U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Pavel has repeatedly criticised. The cabinet’s move follows a long‑standing practice of the president, or both president and prime minister, attending NATO meetings. The court is scheduled to hear the case on 24 June. The dispute emerges amid broader tensions over defence spending, with Babiš defending plans to keep Czech defence outlays below NATO’s 2 % target.

The outcome will determine who may formally represent the Czech Republic at the alliance’s highest gathering and could set a precedent for the division of foreign‑policy powers within the country.