Babiš to meet Turek as president signals he will not appoint Motorists’ nominee

Prime Minister Babiš is to meet with Motorists party MP Filip Turek, whom President Petr Pavel has refused to appoint as environment minister. Babiš then plans to discuss the issue with party chair Petr Macinka ahead of a scheduled lunch with the president on Wednesday, January 7. The prime minister said he would like the situation to be clarified by that time.

President Pavel said on Monday that Turek’s public conduct and statements give the impression that he downplays the crimes of Nazism, and he is therefore unsuitable for any ministerial post. He made it clear that if the prime minister were to nominate him to the post, the president would reject the nomination.

The opposition parties have welcomed the president’s stance.