The dispute between the Czech government and Czech President Petr Pavel regarding the representation of the Czech Republic at the NATO summit is entering a new phase. The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, has decided that the Czech delegation to the North Atlantic Alliance meeting in Ankara in July will be led by the Prime Minister, not the President. Accompanying him to Turkey will be the Minister of Defense, Jaromír Zůna, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petr Macinka.

Babiš stated after the government meeting that the reasons are practical. According to him, the government should represent the Czech position because the cabinet is responsible for foreign policy and for fulfilling alliance commitments. Ankara, however, will not be an easy summit for the Czech Republic. One of the main topics will be defense funding, for which the Czech Republic is facing criticism for not meeting the two percent commitment of NATO.

The decision is also sensitive because Petr Pavel has extensive personal experience with the Alliance. The former Chief of the General Staff previously led the NATO Military Committee and has long been a strong supporter of Ukraine. Since the Czech Republic's accession to NATO, it has been customary for the President to represent the country at such summits, often together with the Prime Minister.

The Presidential Office has so far postponed any immediate political reaction. The Office of the President of the Republic announced that the President's statement will be released on Tuesday, June 23, at 10:00 AM. According to Seznam Zpráv, the office is also preparing a constitutional complaint to be filed with the Constitutional Court. The President has repeatedly stated that the government cannot dictate where he, as head of state, is allowed or not allowed to travel.

The NATO summit in Ankara will take place on July 7 and 8. In addition to defense spending, the summit will also focus on further assistance to Ukraine, the Alliance's capabilities, and the security situation in Europe. The Czech delegation will therefore travel to Turkey not only with a government mandate but also with a visible domestic constitutional dispute looming.

gnews.cz - GH