Czech Republic Rallies in Support of President Pavel Amidst Government Dispute

PRAGUE – Thousands of Czech citizens demonstrated across the country on Sunday, February 15, 2026, expressing strong support for President Petr Pavel in his ongoing dispute with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka. The rallies, organized by the non-governmental group Million Moments for Democracy, took place in approximately 400 municipalities, including Brno, the nation’s second-largest city AP News, SFGate, and Radio Prague.

The Core of the Dispute

The conflict centers on President Pavel’s refusal to appoint Filip Turek as the environment minister. Turek, nominated by the right-wing Motorists for Themselves Euro-skeptic party led by Foreign Minister Macinka, faced scrutiny after a daily newspaper published Facebook posts attributed to him that were deemed racist, homophobic, and sexist. While Turek apologized for some of the posts, he denied authorship of others. AP News

Foreign Minister Macinka accused President Pavel of violating the constitution and threatened unspecified consequences if Turek was not appointed. In response, President Pavel accused Macinka of blackmail. AP News

A Broader Democratic Concern

Mikuláš Minář, head organizer of Million Moments for Democracy, emphasized the significance of the rallies extending beyond a dispute between individuals. “This is no longer just about the president,” Minář stated. “It is time to make it clear that we are not Hungary or Slovakia – and that we will not let a group of oligarchs, extremists and thugs steal our country’s future.” AP News

Political Context

President Pavel, a retired army general, is a strong supporter of Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion. This stance contrasts with the current Czech Cabinet, as well as the pro-Russian governments of Hungary and Slovakia. AP News The current coalition government, formed in December 2025, includes Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, and the Motorists party. The coalition’s agenda includes a shift away from supporting Ukraine, rejection of certain European Union policies, and changes to the financing of public broadcasters, raising concerns about their independence. AP News

Growing Public Support

Sunday’s demonstrations followed a previous rally in Prague two weeks prior, which drew tens of thousands of participants. Million Moments for Democracy is currently collecting signatures for a petition titled “Stojíme za prezidentem” (“We Stand Behind the President”), having already gathered over 760,000 signatures as of February 15, 2026. Organizers plan to hold a large rally at Letná if the petition surpasses one million signatures. Radio Prague