Czech President Petr Pavel ordered into NATO summit delegation by Constitutional Court

The Czech government announced that the country's delegation to the NATO summit in Ankara on 7‑8 July would consist only of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Defence Minister Jaromír Zúna, excluding President Petr Pavel. In response, Pavel filed a competence lawsuit arguing that, under the Czech Constitution, the president represents the state abroad and should lead the NATO delegation.

On 24 June the Constitutional Court issued a provisional measure ordering the government and the foreign‑ministry to immediately inform NATO that the president is part of the official delegation, to secure his accreditation and to refrain from any action that would impede his participation. The court noted that presidential attendance at NATO summits is an established practice, and the measure applies only to the upcoming summit in Ankara. A final ruling on the broader competence dispute is expected in September.

The decision reverses the cabinet’s earlier stance, intensifying a political clash between the president and the coalition led by Prime Minister Babiš (ANO) together with the Autobrusi (Motoristé) and SPD parties. Government officials have said they will respect the court’s order, while commentators describe the court’s intervention as unusually swift and activist. The episode highlights tensions over the division of foreign‑policy authority in the Czech Republic.