Tens of Thousands Rally in Prague to Back Czech President Amid Cabinet Row
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Prague on Sunday in a major show of support for Czech President Petr Pavel, who has accused the country’s foreign minister of attempting to blackmail him over a controversial ministerial appointment.The large rally in the city centre came amid an escalating dispute between the president and the government…
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Prague on Sunday in a major show of support for Czech President Petr Pavel, who has accused the country’s foreign minister of attempting to blackmail him over a controversial ministerial appointment.
The large rally in the city centre came amid an escalating dispute between the president and the government over Pavel’s refusal to appoint a divisive candidate as Minister of the Environment.
Key Developments:
Demonstrators chanted slogans including “We stand with Petr Pavel” and “Democracy is not for blackmail”.
President Pavel described the public turnout as “a strong message in defence of transparency, competence and democratic principles”.
The controversy centres on a proposed candidate for Environment Minister who has faced previous allegations of breaching environmental regulations and having close ties to corporate interests. President Pavel has publicly rejected the nomination, calling the individual unfit for the post.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský strongly denied any blackmail and accused the president of acting in a politically motivated and unconstitutional manner.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala has called for calm and dialogue, but no resolution has been reached so far.
The standoff has reignited debate in Czechia about the constitutional balance of power between the presidency and the government, and is being closely watched as a potential test of political stability in the coming months.
