08.07.2026 06:30
The representation crisis between Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babis over participation in the NATO Summit has moved to Ankara. Pavel, who attended the summit by a Constitutional Court decision, and Babis standing at the farthest points from each other in the NATO family photo revealed the political tension between the two leaders.
The power dispute between Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babis over participation in the NATO Summit was vividly on display in Ankara. While all NATO member countries were represented at the summit by a single leader and a single delegation, the Czech Republic attended with two leaders.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis previously announced that he, Defense Minister Jaromir Zuna, and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka would represent the country at the summit in Ankara, stating that President Petr Pavel would not be part of the delegation.
SUMMIT PARTICIPATION CRISIS TAKEN TO COURT
After Prime Minister Babis excluded President Pavel from the NATO Summit delegation, the crisis was taken to the judiciary. President Pavel objected to the decision and appealed to the country's Constitutional Court.
With the interim measure issued by the Constitutional Court, Pavel was allowed to attend the NATO Summit in Ankara. Pavel, a former general, stated after the decision that it was his constitutional responsibility to directly contact and exchange views with allied leaders, and he participated in the summit.
TWO SEPARATE STATE PLANES LAND IN ANKARA
The representation dispute that began in Prague also manifested itself in Ankara. President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babis arrived in Ankara for the summit on two separate state planes. Thus, the Czech Republic became the only country represented by two different leaders at the NATO Summit.
NOTICEABLE DISTANCE IN FAMILY PHOTO
The political tension between the two leaders was also reflected in NATO's traditional family photo. It was observed that Pavel and Babis avoided standing next to each other during the photo session and positioned themselves at opposite ends of the podium.
The representation crisis between President Petr Pavel, who previously served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and held important positions within the alliance, and Prime Minister Andrej Babis stood out as one of the most notable developments of the summit in Ankara.