Czech President Petr Pavel and PM Andrej Babiš clash over NATO summit participation

President Petr Pavel’s office said the head of state wants regular, non‑confrontational talks with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and does not seek conflict. Babiš responded in a video, calling Pavel’s attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara “an embarrassment” and stating, “I don’t want to be part of his campaign.” The government had tried to block Pavel’s participation, but a preliminary ruling of the Constitutional Court forced the cabinet to ensure his attendance.

Babiš also refused the president’s proposal to resume regular meetings of the country’s top constitutional officials, saying he has no time for such coordination. Opposition leaders, including ODS chairman Martin Kupka, said Babiš had launched a pre‑election campaign against Pavel. Other politicians – former prime ministers Mirek Topolánek and Karel Havlíček, as well as ODS MP Jana Černochová – criticised Babiš’s remarks, describing the episode as a “shame” and “political drama.” Slovak President Peter Pellegrini publicly dismissed Babiš’s claim that Pavel’s presence was a diplomatic “embarrassment.”

Pavel, speaking at a Slovak festival, said he hopes the dispute will calm and that both leaders must cooperate on foreign‑policy matters. The conflict has become a focal point of domestic political tension ahead of upcoming elections.