President Pavel to meet PM Babiš over Macinka text messages

President Petr Pavel is to meet Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO Party) at Prague Castle on Tuesday morning to discuss text messages sent last week by Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, which Pavel has described as extremely serious and amounting to an attempt at blackmail. Babiš said he would have preferred the president to address the matter directly with Macinka but respects his decision. After the meeting, Pavel and Babiš will attend a session of the Security Council of the State. The dispute centres on Pavel’s refusal to appoint Filip Turek as environment minister. Macinka has rejected calls to resign, while the opposition has demanded his departure and initiated a no-confidence vote.