President ready to appoint environment minister, awaits proposal unlikely to come

President Petr Pavel is ready to appoint an environment minister and expects a new proposal from the prime minister, the Presidential Office said after a morning meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). Babiš earlier stated that he does not plan to appoint Motorists’ Party MP Filip Turek and described the matter as closed following talks with the president.

Later in the day, Babiš said he will not pressure the Motorists' Party arty to propose an alternative candidate for environment minister. Speaking to reporters, he said that if the Motorists' Party decide to nominate someone other than Filip Turek, he would submit the proposal in line with the coalition agreement. For now, however, he said it does not appear likely.

Turek was not appointed by the president due to his views and statements. For now, the Motorists’ Party leader Petr Macinka serves as environment minister while also heading Czech diplomacy. Macinka clashed with the president over Turek’s non-appointment.