The Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic ordered the government to ensure the participation of President Petr Pavel at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. The press agency TASR reported on the decision, referring to the statement of the president of the court, Josef Baxa, and the reporter judge, Pavel Šámal, at a press conference in Prague. Thus, the cabinet must officially include the president in the delegation, provide him with accreditation and take care of his transportation to the alliance meeting.
- The Constitutional Court ordered the government to ensure the participation of President Petr Pavle at the summit.
- The cabinet must include the president in the delegation, accredit him and transport him to Ankara.
- The court issued a preliminary measure that temporarily regulates the relations between the president and the government.
- The government and diplomacy must immediately notify NATO of the president’s participation in the delegation.
- Prime Minister Andrej Babiš considers a joint appearance with the president at the summit inappropriate.
According to Bax, the plenum of the Constitutional Court agreed that due to the urgency of the situation, the president’s lawsuit will be dealt with as a matter of priority. However, the final decision in the dispute is to be made only after a long trial, so the judges granted Pavlov’s proposal to issue a preliminary measure, which is supposed to temporarily adjust the relations between the head of state and the government.
Preliminary measure
Šámal explained that the plenum ordered the government, the minister of foreign affairs and the ministry of diplomacy to immediately inform NATO and the organizers of the summit that the president of the republic will be part of the official Czech delegation. At the same time, according to the decision, they must ensure accreditation for Pavel and his entourage and refrain from any steps that would make their participation in the event impossible or difficult.
Baxa pointed out that the judges did not vote unanimously – two members of the plenary session were against the resolution. At the same time, he emphasized that the decision on the preliminary measure does not determine how the Constitutional Court will ultimately decide on the matter itself. This is only a temporary solution so that the rights of any of the parties are not thwarted until the proceedings are concluded.
Dispute with the prime minister
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš commented on the tension between the government and the president even before the verdict of the Constitutional Court. He stated that he considers it inappropriate for him to speak together with the head of state at the summit. He claimed that it was not an ordinary foreign trip, but a key negotiation of the alliance, at which he and the members of his cabinet should represent the Czech Republic.
Babiš added that the government does not want to get into open conflicts with the president, but according to him it is important that the prime minister and his ministers speak on behalf of the Czech Republic at the alliance meeting. He described a joint public appearance with the president on the same forum as completely inappropriate and, in his words, even ridiculous.
