President Petr Pavel at the center of Czech political criticism

Opposition leader Martin Kupka, chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), has intensified attacks on former prime minister Andrej Babiš, likening him to the Soviet Union of the 1930s and later to Nazi Germany. Kupka accused the opposition of empty rhetoric and warned that the lack of substantive policy debate threatens Czech politics.

In a separate commentary, former classmate Pavel Beneš recalled his time with Petr Pavel in a communist-era intelligence course. Beneš described Pavel’s early political ambitions during 1988‑89, noting his involvement in party meetings and his stance against a controversial article in June 1989. The recollections highlight Pavel’s background before his election as president and the lingering scrutiny of his past.

Both pieces reflect ongoing tensions within Czech political circles, with criticism directed at leading figures and debates over historical legacies shaping current discourse.