Czech Power Struggle
Czech President Pavel sues government for excluding him from NATO summit, testing constitutional powers
Key Points
The government will send Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to Ankara to lead the Czech delegation, accompanied by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Defence Minister Jaromír Zuna (the latter nominated by the SPD).
Pavel is a former NATO general who previously led the Czech army and served as head of NATO's Military Committee from 2015 to 2018.
NATO-related defence spending is a flashpoint: NATO chief Mark Rutte indicated the Czech Republic failed to meet the 2% of GDP defence-spending target in 2025, a point Babiš cited as a reason Prague should justify its stance to Ankara.
Pavel has publicly criticized government projects and has opposed the proposed abolition of broadcasting licence fees, illustrating a domestic-policies dimension to the foreign-policy dispute.
Czech President Petr Pavel filed a competency lawsuit with the Constitutional Court on June 23 after the government blocked him from leading the Czech delegation to the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7–8. It is the first time in 27 years of NATO membership that a Czech president has been excluded from heading the delegation — the only previous exception was a case of serious illness, according to Demócrata.
The Babiš cabinet formally voted on June 22 to send Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna to Ankara instead. Pavel called the move "unprecedented and exceptionally unfortunate" and vowed to defend presidential powers "for the sake of all presidents who will come after me," according to Radio Prague International.
Pavel Files Lawsuit as Court Vows Fast Decision
Pavel's legal team argues that Article 63 of the Czech Constitution gives the president the duty to "represent the state externally" — a core function of the office, not a privilege granted by the government. The Constitutional Court said it will treat the case as a priority, with a session scheduled for June 24, according to Radio Prague International.
The stakes are high. If the court rules for Pavel, it sets a permanent legal barrier against sidelining the presidency in foreign affairs. If it rules against him, it would sharply reduce the power of the office, say legal analysts cited by Reuters.
Defence Spending Shortfall Sits at the Heart of the Dispute
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on June 17 that Czechia failed to hit NATO's 2% of GDP defence spending target in 2025. Estimates put the actual figure at between 1.7% and 1.8%, according to Xinhua. Babiš posted on X that "this summit will be different" and that his ministers could better explain Prague's spending shortfall to allies.
A key flashpoint is Babiš's push to count a highway project on the Polish border as defence spending — a move both NATO and Pavel have rejected as an "accounting trick," according to the Financial Times. In a May 31 interview, Babiš described himself as a "Trumpist" and admitted Czechia would likely miss the 2% target again in 2026. NATO allies agreed at the 2025 Hague Summit to aim for 5% of GDP in defence spending by 2035.
A Coalition Clash With Deep Political Roots
Babiš formed his current coalition with the SPD and the Motorists party after ANO won October 2025 elections with 34.5% of the vote, according to Radio Prague International. The coalition has clashed repeatedly with Pavel. Defence Minister Zůna was nominated by the SPD — a nationalist party that views Pavel as too close to Brussels and EU institutions.
The tensions go beyond NATO. The government announced on June 15 a plan to scrap public broadcasting licence fees by 2027, replacing them with state funding. Pavel has openly opposed the plan. The European Federation of Journalists condemned the move as an attempt to bring public media under political control. Czech Television and Czech Radio have already issued strike alerts, with a major protest planned for late June.
Ankara Summit Could See Czech Republic Arrive Divided
Diplomatic observers warn that the public legal fight may project a "divided front" in Ankara and weaken Prague's hand as allies negotiate new long-term spending commitments, according to MarketScreener. Pavel is a former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, serving from 2015 to 2018, and has led the Czech delegation at every previous summit since taking office.
A pre-summit poll by STEM found the Czech public is split, with a slight majority favouring Babiš representing the country given the fiscal focus of the meeting, according to Radio Prague International. The Constitutional Court's ruling — expected before the July 7 summit — will determine not just who flies to Ankara, but how Czech executive power is divided for years to come.
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