Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has come under intense scrutiny after proposing a man accused of rape and domestic violence as the new environment minister in his government. The controversial nomination of Filip Turek, a 40-year-old former car racer and European Parliament member, has led to a clash between Babiš and Czech President Petr Pavel, who rejected the proposal.
Babiš’s party, ANO, won the October 2025 election, forming a coalition government with two smaller, eurosceptic parties: the far-right SPD and the right-wing Motorists. The coalition, which took office in December, initially backed Turek to serve as environment minister. However, Turek’s nomination faced strong resistance from President Pavel, who questioned Turek’s suitability for the role due to allegations of rape, domestic violence, and racist and misogynistic behavior.
Turek is under investigation following a complaint filed by a former girlfriend, accusing him of rape and domestic violence. Additionally, media outlets have highlighted his past social media posts containing offensive and discriminatory language, and police have probed allegations that Turek possessed Nazi paraphernalia and performed Nazi salutes, although the case was later dropped.
Despite this, Prime Minister Babiš attempted to persuade President Pavel to approve Turek’s appointment, even claiming to have spent an hour in discussion with the president to secure the nomination. However, Pavel remained firm in his stance, rejecting the proposal. The Motorists party had initially pushed for Turek to be appointed as foreign minister, but after facing public outrage, they backed down and agreed to nominate him for the environment post instead.
Pavel expressed his concerns, stating that Turek’s past behavior raised doubts about his commitment to the values enshrined in the Czech constitution. A meeting with Turek before Christmas led Pavel to believe that appointing him as a minister would be incompatible with the country’s constitutional principles. The president’s office emphasized that a person with such conduct could not represent the Czech government.
Legal experts have weighed in on the matter, noting that while the constitution’s language regarding ministerial appointments is vague, President Pavel’s refusal to name Turek does not appear excessive. Constitutional lawyer Jan Kysela suggested that the president’s decision could be justified based on the significant concerns regarding Turek’s conduct.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Babiš himself is embroiled in a legal battle, facing trial over EU subsidy fraud. Additionally, the new parliament speaker, Tomio Okamura of the SPD, is set to stand trial over charges of inciting hatred. Critics argue that Babiš and Okamura might work together to protect themselves from legal consequences, potentially preventing their removal of parliamentary immunity.
The situation has sparked fierce public debate, with many questioning the integrity of Babiš’s government and its commitment to upholding Czech values. As the controversy unfolds, the future of Turek’s potential appointment remains uncertain, leaving the Czech political landscape in a state of tension and scrutiny.
