Pavel: Pragmatic and values-based politics are not mutually exclusive

President Petr Pavel says pragmatic and values-based politics are not mutually exclusive, citing Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, as an example. Speaking in Lány at a ceremony marking the 89th anniversary of Masaryk’s death, Pavel said Masaryk pursued pragmatic domestic and foreign policies while remaining guided by clear values. His comments contrast with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), who said in April that his government would pursue a pragmatic rather than values-based foreign policy, arguing that the latter had brought little benefit and harmed Czech businesses.