ROB CAMERON

Petr Pavel was an unlikely choice for president of a country which has shied away from militarism. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed everything. Pavel – once head of the Czech armed forces and number two at NATO – defeated former PM Andrej Babiš by a clear margin in January 2023, and gave his first international TV interview to the BBC.

President Petr Pavel has rejected a controversial candidate for the post of environment minister. Filip Turek of the conservative, Eurosceptic Motorists party faces numerous allegations over racist, sexist and homophobic Facebook posts. Turek, whose X handle is ‘@DolphSegal’, has also been captured several times doing the Hitler salute – he says in gest.

Billionaire Andrej Babis has been appointed as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister, with his full cabinet expected to take office within days. His appointment followed a key demand from President Petr Pavel – a public pledge by Babis to relinquish control over his vast food-processing, agriculture and chemicals conglomerate Agrofert.