President Pavel urges Babiš to consider risk of appointing Turek to cabinet post

President Petr Pavel has called on ANO leader Andrej Babiš to carefully consider whether he wants to risk a “major embarrassment” by appointing Filip Turek from the Motorists’ party to a ministerial post, if it should turn out that the racist statements he is alleged to have posted on social networks in the past are authentic. The newly elected MP, who was being considered for the post of foreign minister, is now being investigated for hate speech by police. Speaking during a visit to the Ústí nad Labem region, Pavel reiterated that Turek should not be part of the government if the allegations against him prove to be true.

The president also said he has no plans to meet Babiš again until there is tangible progress in drafting the government’s policy statement or filling key cabinet posts.