President Pavel opposed to Turek’s nomination as cabinet minister

President Petr Pavel’s objections to the nomination of Filip Turek as environment minister persist, the Presidential Office said after their meeting at Prague Castle on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Vít Kolář said ministers must meet heightened standards of loyalty to constitutional values. According to him, Turek’s public conduct and statements give the impression that he downplays the crimes of Nazi Germany, one of the worst totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, responsible for the genocide of millions.

Pavel is convinced that a person with such behaviour cannot serve as a minister and expects the prime minister not to propose Turek for the post. If that expectation is not met, the president has a duty to act, though he considers such a step an exceptional and last-resort measure, Kolář added.