President’s wife criticises impossibility of voting in local polls from abroad, different constituency

Eva Pavlová, wife of Czech President Petr Pavel, has criticised the fact the state does not allow people to vote in local elections from abroad or outside their own constituencies in Czechia, when the date of those elections has been set by law. She made the comment on social media.

Mr. Pavel will not be taking part in elections in the municipality where he has permanent residency. His office said a planning error meant he would be abroad on a private trip.

It is unusual for a Czech head of state not to take part in elections and critics have said that Mr. Pavel should abandon his holiday.

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar rejected the criticism, writing on X that the country’s electoral system would not be changed simply because President Petr Pavel had planned a holiday for the election date.