Czech president considers criminal charges against foreign minister

President Petr Pavel has announced that he is considering filing a criminal charge against Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists’ Party) over what he regards as blackmail. Pavel made the remarks during a press conference on Tuesday.

Macinka reportedly sent two text messages to Pavel via his adviser. The president described the messages as “extremely serious” and has submitted a report to the security services, while also handing the texts to his lawyers for review. He also shared them on social media.

In one of the messages, Macinka allegedly wrote: “He (the president) can have peace if I get Turek at the Ministry of the Environment. If not, I will burn bridges in a way that will go down in political science textbooks..." He also added that: "If (the president) does not agree to negotiations regarding Turek at the Ministry of the Environment, the consequences will come as a great surprise.” The messages refer to Pavel’s refusal to appoint Filip Turek (Motorists’ Party) as environment minister, citing concerns over Turek’s past controversies, including racist and homophobic posts on social media.

Macinka does not consider his text messages sent to the president’s adviser Petr Kolář to be a form of blackmail. Attempting to influence someone’s stance in politics is the very essence of any negotiation, Macinka said at a press conference later in the day. He added that his stance is rooted in what he described as  Pavel’s departure from the constitutional framework, citing Pavel’s refusal to appoint Turek as a minister.

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Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said in a statement to the Czceh News Agency that Macinka’s words to President Pavel’s adviser were “unfortunate.” He added that it was a private communication with an adviser and therefore “certainly cannot be considered blackmail.” SPD leader Tomio Okamura told journalists that he definitely does not take the president’s side in this matter.

The opposition, on the other hand, is calling for the removal of Macinka from the position of foreign minister. However, the ANO, SPD and Motorists governing coalition blocked opposition efforts to have the lower house hold a debate on Macinka's messages this afternoon. MPs from the opposition TOP 09 and STAN then called procedural recesses, bringing today’s sitting to an early close. MPs will reconvene on Wednesday morning.

At an evening press conference, opposition leaders said they insist that Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) clearly address the affair at the start of Wednesday’s session and distance himself from Macinka’s conduct.