President Pavel warns against undermining trust in judiciary amid government clash over NATO summit lawsuit

President warns on judicial trust

Czech President Petr Pavel used a rule-of-law conference in Prague on Tuesday to caution that public statements branding courts as biased, politicized, or activist undermine confidence in the justice system. Speaking at an event marking the release of the European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law report, Pavel said such labels send a damaging signal.

If we hear statements about courts being biased, that the cases they handle are politicized, that they are activist, then that is not a good signal for the public to have trust in their rule of law.

Government moves against judge

The warning came a day after the cabinet of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš decided to ask the Constitutional Court to reject President Pavel’s competence lawsuit over his exclusion from the Czech delegation to a NATO summit in Ankara. The government also requested the removal of judge rapporteur Pavel Šámal from the case. Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc accused Šámal of “unprecedented judicial activism,” saying the court’s preliminary measure that ordered Pavel’s participation in the summit was issued without giving the government any chance to respond.

The government was not heard at all, it had no opportunity to express itself. Even if it had only hours, we were ready to provide it.

Tejc argued that accepting the president’s interpretation would create “a second power center, which unlike the government would be completely irresponsible,” and insisted that the Czech Republic has only one foreign policy, which cannot be run simultaneously by the government and the president.

Babiš draws a line

The dispute has become personal. After Monday’s cabinet meeting, Babiš said he never wants to be part of the same delegation with the president again, following their joint trip to Ankara. The prime minister’s remark underscored the deepening rift between the head of state and the government, which is led by Babiš’s ANO movement.

Rule-of-law challenges

In his speech, Pavel stressed that the rule of law is not a given and requires constant care. He listed several shortcomings: slow digitalization of the judiciary, a still non-operational electronic file service, persistent gaps in anti-corruption rules and conflict-of-interest regulation, and a lack of transparency in media ownership. He also criticized that debate on public-service media too often focuses only on financing rather than on their role, content, and independence. Pavel added that a planned civil service law should not weaken the independence and impartiality of state officials or lower qualification requirements.

Broader context

The European Commission’s annual rule-of-law report provides the backdrop. Pavel noted that the Czech Republic fares relatively well in international comparisons but still confronts several issues. He identified the fight against corruption and conflicts of interest as areas needing improvement, citing the absence of rules for transitions between political office and business. On media, he said transparency of ownership remains a concern, and that the conversation around public broadcasters too often narrows to funding rather than their independence and public-service mission.