Czech climate envoy skips EU summit for no-confidence vote

Motorists’ party MP Filip Turek, the Czech government’s climate change commissioner, will not attend an informal meeting of EU environment ministers in Cyprus, choosing instead to take part in a no-confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies, the Environment Ministry said. Turek had planned to travel with the Slovak delegation, but the trip was cancelled due to a meeting of the Slovak parliament. Czechia will be represented in Cyprus by Deputy Environment Minister Vladislav Smrž (ANO) and senior official Michal Pastvinský. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed their attendance. Former environment minister Petr Hladík criticised the absence of a cabinet member. The ministry is currently led on an interim basis by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists) amid a dispute with President Petr Pavel over Turek’s appointment.