Pavel vs Babiš: Mass Rally in Prague Supports President
World
On Sunday, approximately 80–90 thousand people took to the streets of Prague, according to organizers, to support Czech President Petr Pavel. The rally filled Old Town Square and part of Wenceslas Square, with Czech, EU, and Ukrainian flags displayed, along with signs promoting democracy and opposing Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
The conflict stems from the October 2025 parliamentary elections, after which Eurosceptic Andrej Babiš became Prime Minister. The “Automobilists” party obtained the posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Environment. Petr Macek, head of the Foreign Ministry, temporarily assumes the role of Environment Minister as President Pavel refuses to confirm the party’s candidate, Filip Turek.
Filip Turek has faced criticism due to past photos featuring Nazi symbols and accusations of domestic violence. The president stated that ministers must demonstrate loyalty to constitutional values, and Turek’s conduct raises concerns about respect for the history of Nazism and genocide.
The conflict escalated on January 27 after screenshots of messages from Macek were made public, in which he pressured the president, threatening to “burn all bridges” if Turek was not approved. President Pavel forwarded the messages to legal experts for review. Macek maintains this was a form of political negotiation, while Prime Minister Babiš says the wording was “poorly expressed” but not blackmail.
Filip Turek has faced criticism due to past photos featuring Nazi symbols and accusations of domestic violence. The president stated that ministers must demonstrate loyalty to constitutional values, and Turek’s conduct raises concerns about respect for the history of Nazism and genocide.
The conflict escalated on January 27 after screenshots of messages from Macek were made public, in which he pressured the president, threatening to “burn all bridges” if Turek was not approved. President Pavel forwarded the messages to legal experts for review. Macek maintains this was a form of political negotiation, while Prime Minister Babiš says the wording was “poorly expressed” but not blackmail.
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