Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has decided that President Petr Pavel will not be part of the country's official delegation to the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between the Czech presidency and the government, with Babiš asserting control over the nation's representation at the key alliance meeting.
Babiš defended the decision, stating that the exclusion was not an act of spite or an attempt to restrict the president's actions.
According to reports from Czech media outlets including Lidovky and Idnes, the prime minister emphasized that the government's choice was procedural rather than personal, though the political fallout is expected to be substantial.
The decision comes as the Czech presidential office prepares to issue an official response to the government's determination regarding the delegation's composition.
The office is scheduled to publish its statement on Tuesday at 10:00 CET, which is likely to outline the president's position on the matter and potentially challenge the government's authority to make such a unilateral decision.