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Czech President Petr Pavel is focusing his attention on potential cabinet appointments following a recent push to resolve a conflict of interest involving ANO movement leader Andrej Babiš. With Babiš publicly outlining his plans to address the issue, Pavel is now turning his scrutiny toward Filip Turek, a candidate nominated to lead the Ministry of Transport.
Turek is scheduled to meet with the President on Monday, becoming the last of fifteen proposed nominees to be reviewed for a ministerial position. During the meeting, Pavel intends to raise concerns about Turek that are shared by a significant portion of the public, including some voters who supported the incoming coalition government. The President, however, does not anticipate changing Turek’s position.
Growing uncertainty surrounding Turek’s potential role in the government was evident during a recent visit to Slovakia, where Tomio Okamura, the head of the Chamber of Deputies, introduced the Czech delegation to his Slovak counterpart, Richard Raši. While presenting Petr Macinka, the leader of the Motorist party, as a potential candidate for Minister of the Environment or Foreign Affairs, Okamura described Turek simply as “vice-chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee.”
Macinka Considered for Multiple Ministries
Even after Turek was presented to Prime Minister Robert Fico with the hope of securing his appointment, sources within the Motorist party suggest his nomination isn’t guaranteed. This comes after a reshuffling of portfolios within the Motorist party, where Macinka and the party’s honorary president swapped proposed ministries, with the belief that Turek would be less controversial as Minister of the Environment. However, that isn’t enough to satisfy the President.
The possibility that the Motorist party may have to proceed without its most prominent figure is increasing. Following a meeting with President Pavel, Macinka appeared to step back from actively advocating for Turek’s appointment. “I thanked the President for receiving Filip Turek. I asked him to be strict but fair with Mr. Turek,” Macinka said after the meeting. This shift underscores the challenges facing the new coalition as it attempts to finalize its cabinet.
According to sources, Macinka did not inquire about the reasons behind the President’s disapproval during the meeting, nor did he present any arguments in Turek’s defense.
If Turek fails to convince the President, even as a candidate for Minister of the Environment, the Motorist party will need to decide on a replacement to maintain control of the ministry. Coalition partners have declined to comment on potential changes, stating they will await the outcome of Monday’s meeting between Turek and the President. “I will not speculate; let’s wait for the meeting between Filip Turek and the President,” said Karel Havlíček, deputy chairman of the ANO movement.
An alternative scenario being discussed is Macinka potentially leading both the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jan Zahradil, a foreign affairs advisor for the Motorist party, suggested this possibility in a recent interview, referencing a similar situation in 2018 when Jan Hamáček served as both Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Zahradil noted that the arrangement could be temporary, with deputy ministers playing a crucial role.
The possibility of Macinka holding two portfolios echoes past instances of dual ministerial roles in Czech politics. Karel Havlíček served as both Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade while also holding the position of Minister of Transport in 2020, remaining in both roles until the end of the Babiš government.
Potential Candidates for Foreign Ministry
Several individuals are being considered for the position of Foreign Minister should Turek’s appointment fall through. These include diplomat Boris Brodský, who served as Deputy Director of the Foreign Department of the Presidential Office during Václav Klaus’s presidency, and Marie Chatardová, a highly respected diplomat who has held ambassadorial positions in Sweden, France, and the United States. Jan Sechter, a former ambassador to Poland and Austria, is also under consideration.
Sechter has close ties to the ANO movement, having served as an advisor to then-Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radek Vondráček (ANO) on European Union and foreign affairs since 2018. More recently, there has been speculation that Sechter could ultimately be appointed to the Ministry of Transport or Industry and Trade.
Ultimately, the final decision regarding any changes would rest with the coalition council, with Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babiš playing a key role. However, it remains unclear whether Babiš would entrust Macinka—who has extensive experience as a spokesperson but lacks managerial experience—with two ministerial positions.
The Motorist party and coalition partners are currently refraining from public comment, awaiting the outcome of Monday’s meeting between Turek and the President.
While the possibility of a legal challenge to the President’s decisions remains, Motorist party leader Macinka stated he is not currently considering such a step, as is the ANO movement. President Pavel himself suggested that a legal challenge could be beneficial, stating, “It might be useful if a competence dispute arises, which the Constitutional Court would then resolve.”
With reporting by Iveta Křížová.
