Traditional New Year’s Lunch: President Pavel and Prime Minister Babiš Discuss Key Domestic and Foreign Policy Issues

President Pavel and the new Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, used the traditional New Year’s lunch to discuss key domestic and foreign policy issues. The focus was on ministerial appointments, the situation in Ukraine, and the alignment of foreign policy positions.

At the traditional New Year’s lunch, the President and the Prime Minister spoke about domestic and foreign policy topics, security policy questions, as well as the framework for cooperation and coordination.

In the field of domestic policy, they discussed, among other things, the nomination of Filip Turek as Minister of the Environment. The nomination was submitted to President Pavel on Wednesday by the new Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš. The President’s position regarding Turek’s appointment as a member of the government remains unchanged; a written communication to the Prime Minister will follow.

Babiš is not considering a competence complaint against the President over Turek’s non-appointment. In his view, however, Turek should have been given a chance, and Babiš attempted to persuade President Pavel of this. The Prime Minister will discuss the matter with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, who is temporarily also in charge of the Ministry of the Environment and is Chairman of Motoristé sobě. There may also be a meeting between Macinka and President Pavel.

Foto: Zuzana Bönisch | Pražský hrad - Prezident České republiky

Another key topic was the government’s position on Russian aggression in Ukraine, particularly in connection with statements by the new Chairman of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura. The President emphasised the need to coordinate public statements so that they align with the country’s foreign policy priorities and obligations to partners and allies.

In this context, President Pavel and Prime Minister Babiš agreed to improve coordination and mutual information exchange on foreign and security policy and to coordinate overseas trips. The President set the first date for a meeting of the highest constitutional bodies for 26 January.

Current global political issues were also discussed, including developments in Venezuela and the impact of US foreign policy on international security. In conclusion, President Pavel stated that he considers it appropriate for the Czech Republic to join a joint declaration by European states regarding Greenland.