Government camp looks for candidate to challenge President Pavel

Czech politicians are already looking ahead to the 2028 presidential election. In a Sunday TV debate, ANO parliamentary group leader Taťána Malá (ANO) said the governing coalition should unite behind a cross-party candidate capable of defeating President Petr Pavel. Eva Decroix (Civic Democratic Party) replied that her support for the incumbent would depend on the full list of candidates, while accusing the government of trying to undermine the president's legitimacy. President Pavel says he will decide next year whether to seek a second term. Relations between the president and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's (ANO) government coalition have recently deteriorated over disputes including NATO representation and the president's veto of a public finance bill.