Prague saw tens of thousands take to the streets on Sunday,February 1,2026,in a notable show of support for President Petr Pavel as a political crisis deepens within the Czech Republic. The demonstrations underscore a growing rift between Pavel and the governing coalition led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, centering on disagreements over Ukraine policy and a controversial ministerial appointment. The escalating tensions have prompted concerns about the direction of the country’s democratic institutions and its commitment to supporting Kyiv amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.
Tens of thousands of Czech citizens took to the streets of Prague on Sunday, February 1, 2026, to voice their support for President Petr Pavel amid a deepening political dispute with the nationalist government led by billionaire Andrej Babis. The demonstrations reflect a growing divide within the Czech Republic over its stance on the war in Ukraine and the direction of the country’s democratic institutions.
Organizers from the independent civic movement “A Million Moments for Democracy” estimated that up to 90,000 people participated in the demonstration, many carrying Czech, European, and Ukrainian flags. The protests were sparked by a dispute over a controversial ministerial appointment and the government’s reluctance to fully support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
A Threat of Retaliation
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The current government, formed following October legislative elections, is a coalition comprised of the ANO party and two Eurosceptic factions – the far-right SPD and the right-wing Motorists party. The conflict between President Pavel and the governing coalition centers on the nomination of a minister and the level of support for Ukraine. “We are here to show the president that he is not alone – the devil of dictatorship never sleeps, and we must remain vigilant,” Alena Krotká, a retiree who protested against the communist regime in Prague’s Wenceslas Square in 1989, told the Associated Press.
On Tuesday, February 2, 2026, President Pavel revealed messages from Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, who also leads the Motorists party, threatening repercussions if he did not appoint party colleague Filip Turek to the position of Environment Minister. This development underscores growing political tensions within the Czech Republic.
Allegations of Abuse and Extremism
Filip Turek, a former Member of the European Parliament, is currently under investigation following allegations of domestic violence and rape filed by a former partner. Media reports have also surfaced revealing misogynistic and racist messages posted by Turek on social media. Police previously investigated suspicions of possession of Nazi artifacts and performing a Hitler salute, but later dropped the case. “We must put an end to this type of behavior at the highest level of politics, we cannot continue like this,” said Teodor, a 16-year-old high school student at the demonstration, holding a banner in support of the president.
Motion of No Confidence
President Pavel refused to appoint Turek, stating that his actions “raise doubts about his loyalty to the values enshrined in the Czech Constitution.” Macinka, who is currently serving as interim Environment Minister, subsequently barred a journalist who published the controversial messages from Turek from attending a press conference. The opposition has launched a motion of no confidence against the government, scheduled for next week, though it is not expected to topple Babis’s coalition, which holds a majority in parliament.
“The unprecedented blackmail exerted on the president by Petr Macinka is absolutely unacceptable. This has no place in a democratic culture,” the movement stated on Facebook.
Past Accusations Against Babis
In 2019, the civic action group mobilized approximately 250,000 people in a demonstration against Andrej Babis during his first term, accusing him of corruption and calling for his resignation. Another demonstration is planned if the recent petition, titled “We Support the President,” initiated by the civic movement and already boasting over 622,000 signatures, reaches one million signatures. You can read more about Andrej Babis’s return to Czech politics here.
“I deeply appreciate all those who are not indifferent to what is happening around them and who feel responsible for the state of our country,” President Pavel said on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
Jednou z velmi pozitivních předností naší země je síla a kvalita občanské společnosti, která se dokáže ve správnou chvíli jasně a srozumitelně postavit za správnou věc.
Velmi si vážím všech, kteří nezůstávají lhostejní k tomu, co se kolem nich děje, a cítí svůj díl odpovědnosti…
— Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) February 1, 2026
The dispute extends to military aid, with Pavel and Babis at odds over sending locally manufactured fighter jets to Ukraine. While the president supports delivering four L-159 aircraft, the government, opposing military assistance to Kyiv, argues that Prague needs the planes itself. Further information on the political landscape in the Czech Republic can be found here.
