On June 24, 2026, the Czech Constitutional Court issued an injunction directing the government to allow President Petr Pavel to participate in and lead the Czech delegation to the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, Turkey [1, 2, 3, 4]. The ruling overturned the government’s earlier decision to exclude Pavel, breaking with the tradition of the president heading the delegation [1, 2, 4].

Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his ANO party had decided earlier that week to send a delegation led solely by the prime minister without President Pavel’s involvement [1, 2]. Pavel challenged that decision in court, arguing representing the country internationally is a constitutional power of the presidency [1, 2, 3, 4]. Judge Pavel Samal said the government and Foreign Ministry “are ordered to immediately notify NATO and the organizers of the summit... that the president of the republic is also part of the official delegation” [2].

President Pavel declared on June 25 that he will lead the Czech delegation himself and select which summit events to attend [3]. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka criticized the court ruling as an “attempted constitutional coup” but said the government would comply with accrediting the president [3]. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Babis called Pavel’s actions “ridiculous” and said the dispute was driven by the president’s hopes for re-election [2].

The government justified excluding Pavel by citing the need to have control over explaining Czech policies to NATO allies, including the failure to meet the alliance’s 2% GDP defense spending target [1]. The dispute has deepened tensions between the presidency and government, with accusations of political retaliation related to ministerial appointments linked to the Motorists party [3].

Pavel, a former Czech army top commander and head of NATO’s military committee from 2015-18, is known for his strong pro-NATO and pro-EU stance [1]. The court injunction is provisional and does not prejudice a final ruling on the limits of presidential authority at international events [1, 2].

The NATO summit will take place July 7-8 in Ankara, where Pavel will now officially lead the Czech delegation as ordered by the court [1, 2, 3].