Czech President Pavel Challenges PM Babiš's Authority to Represent Country at NATO Summit

Czech President Petr Pavel announced on Tuesday that he has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court, challenging the prime minister's authority to represent the country at the next NATO summit. Since joining the alliance in 1999, the Czech Republic has always been represented by its president at NATO summits. However, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's government decided on Monday that the prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister would represent the country at the July summit in Ankara.

Pavel has asked the court to clarify the powers of the president and government in representing the Czech Republic abroad, calling the government's decision unprecedented and particularly unfortunate. He argues that the constitution stipulates that the president represents the country abroad. The Constitutional Court has said it will hear the case on an expedited basis.

Babiš stated that he respects the president's decision but does not think it was a good idea. On social media platform X, he described the government's move as pragmatic. The prime minister plans to travel to Ankara with Foreign Minister and AUTO leader Petr Macinka, and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna, nominated by SPD. Babiš claimed that these ministers can better explain why the Czech Republic fails to meet its NATO obligation to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP. Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte criticized Prague for not reaching the target in 2025 either, and Babiš confirmed that this year the country would also fall short.

Pavel, who defeated Babiš in the 2023 presidential election, has had tense relations with the government. Last year, he refused to appoint AUTO's candidate Filip Turek as environment minister due to Turek's controversial racist and sexist remarks. Additionally, Pavel strongly supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, while the Babiš government has refused to provide any direct military aid to Kyiv. The current ruling coalition consists of Babiš's populist ANO party, the right-wing populist and eurosceptic AUTO, and the far-right SPD.