Babiš rejects Pavel’s proposal to renew top-level foreign policy meetings

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO Party) has rejected President Petr Pavel’s proposal to resume regular meetings of the country’s top constitutional officials on foreign policy, Czech Television reported. Babiš said the government and president had different views and that he had no time for such consultations. Pavel argues coordination is essential, particularly on foreign and security policy. Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) said the absence of the meetings weakened Czechia and that differing views made dialogue even more necessary. Relations between the president and government have recently been strained by a dispute over Pavel’s participation in the NATO summit in Ankara.