PM Babiš: Government coalition wants to avoid escalation of dispute with president

The governing coalition of ANO, SPD and Motorists does not want to further escalate the dispute with President Pavel, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said after Monday’s government session. Mr. Babiš said he would discuss the matter with the president on Wednesday morning. The drawn-out conflict arose after President Pavel refused to appoint Filip Turek, the Motorists’ honorary president, to the post of environment minister. Babiš said he expects to reach an agreement with the president on future cooperation. He added that Macinka had promised to change his style of communication.

The prime minister said that the question who would represent the Czech Republic at the NATO summit in Turkey in July would be decided later.