Final Word from Monday, April 7, 2025

The Czech president has the official authority to appoint the PM, as well as the political authority to influence how people vote. Petr Pavel told Novinky that he hasn't completely made up his mind about whom he will vote for this fall and that he barely even tells this to his wife, so he won't share such information with the public. This sets him apart from Miloš Zeman, who supported ANO in the 2021 elections and said that if he had a second vote, he'd give it to ČSSD (now SocDem). As admirable and statesmanlike as Pavel's position might look at first glance, it would actually be fairer to everyone involved - voters, non-voters, political parties - if he said straight out whom he will be batting for in the next six months and whom he prefers as PM. Remember, he told Blesk in Nov. that he'll do everything he can so that the elections turn out the way he wants them to. If this still applies and if he wants STAN Chair Vít Rakušan to be the next PM, which is how it looks so far, he should come out and say it. [ Czech Republic Právo prime minister Interior Pres. ]