Thousands rally behind President Pavel as political fight widens
Thousands of demonstrators gathered across the Czech Republic on Sunday to voice support for President Petr Pavel in a dispute with the country’s foreign minister, according to the Associated Press.
Organizers from the Million Moments for Democracy non-governmental group said rallies took place in some 400 municipalities, including Brno, the second-largest city. The demonstrations followed earlier protests in Prague two weeks earlier, when tens of thousands rallied in support of Pavel.
The dispute centers on Pavel’s refusal to appoint a government minister who would represent the right-wing Motorists for Themselves Euro-skeptic party. That party is led by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, AP reported.
Pavel said Filip Turek was ineligible to become environment minister after a daily published posts from his Facebook page that were found to be racist, homophobic and sexist. Turek, AP said, apologized for some posts but denied posting others.
Macinka accused Pavel of violating the constitution and threatened him with consequences if he does not appoint his controversial associate. Pavel, AP reported, accused Macinka of blackmailing him.
A rally organizer, Mikuláš Minář, told protesters that the fight had moved beyond Pavel personally, saying, “This is no longer just about the president,” and, “It is time to make it clear that we are not Hungary or Slovakia – and that we will not let a group of oligarchs, extremists and thugs steal our country’s future.”
Pavel swore in a new government on Dec. 15 under Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a billionaire turned politician. AP said Babiš’s ANO, or YES, movement won big in the country’s October election and agreed to form a majority coalition with two smaller parties: Freedom and Direct Democracy, an anti-migrant party, and the Motorists.
AP reported that the coalition’s agenda includes steering the Czech Republic away from supporting Ukraine, rejecting some key European Union policies, and changing how public broadcasters are financed—an approach many consider a threat to broadcasters’ independence.
Pavel, a retired army general, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, AP reported. It also said that stance contrasts with the new Czech cabinet and with pro-Russian governments in Hungary and Slovakia.