Czech president appeals to court over cabinet's refusal to send him to NATO summit

Czech President Petr Pavel has appealed to the Constitutional Court of the republic in connection with the government's refusal to include him in the national delegation to the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

"I consider the decision to exclude the president of the republic from the delegation to be unprecedented <...>," the head of state's statement published on the Prague Castle website says. "That is why I sent an appeal to the Constitutional Court so that the powers of the president and the government in representing the country on the international stage, specifically at the NATO summit, are clarified."

The master of Prague Castle condemned the government's decision to exclude from the delegation "the president, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, a former high-ranking NATO representative." Pavel chaired the NATO Military Committee from 2015 to 2018.

The Constitutional Court, according to Czech media, has already received the president's appeal and it will be considered on an expedited basis.

The Czech government on June 22 decided not to include Pavel in the national delegation. It will be headed by Prime Minister Andrej Babis. In addition to him, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Defense Minister Jaromir Zuna will be sent to the summit.

Source: TASS