Head of the Motorists‘ party to meet with PM and Turek by January  7

Petr Macinka, head of the Motorists‘ party and foreign minister, will meet Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) and the Motorists‘ candidate for environment minister, Filip Turek, by January 7, he told journalists today. The meetings will occur just before Babiš’s New Year lunch with President Petr Pavel, whose reservations about Turek are expected to be discussed.

Macinka said he was concerned by comments from Vít Kolář, head of communications at the presidential office, regarding Monday’s meeting between Pavel and Turek. The president has indicated he expects Babiš not to nominate Turek; if the prime minister does, the president may refuse to appoint him.

Turek has faced criticism over racist and homophobic social media posts. He has apologised for some but denies authorship of others. He remains the party’s only candidate for environmnet minister.