Huge demonstration in Prague in support of the president. Petr Pavel, in open conflict with the government of Andrej Babis
Demonstration in Prague in support of President Petr Pavel Photo: Deml Ondřej / ČTK / Profimedia
Tens of thousands of people gathered on Sunday in the streets of the Czech capital, Prague, in support of the liberal president Petr Pavel, reports DPA, taken over by Agerpres.
Demonstrators gathered in two large squares in the center of Prague, at the call of the “One million moments for democracy” initiative. This comes amid an increasingly escalating dispute between the president and the new right-wing government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
At the demonstration – in which, according to the organizers, between 80,000 and 90,000 people took part – they shouted, among other things, “We are not alone!”.
Pavel refuses to appoint the honorary president of the Motorists' Party, Filip Turek, to the government as environment minister, citing his previous controversial statements, which the president considers incompatible with the role of a minister in a democracy.
Pavel publicly accused the foreign minister, Petr Macinka, Turek's party colleague, of trying to blackmail him to get this appointment. Filip Turek is accused of having made racist and sexist remarks in posts on social networks.
On Sunday, Pavel thanked the X demonstrators for their support Former NATO general, Petr Pavel has been in the position of president of the Czech Republic since March 2023, having been elected by direct popular vote.
The parliamentary opposition intends to file a no-confidence motion against the government on Tuesday, following accusations of pressure on the president. However, the chances of success are very small.
The coalition formed by Babis's ANO party, the Motorists and the Freedom and Direct Democracy party (radical right) holds a majority of 108 out of 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
