Petr Pavel’s Past: Controversy & NATO’s Role in Current Conflicts
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition supporting Czech President Petr Pavel amid what organizers describe as increasing pressure on the head of state following the formation of a latest government, according to reports Sunday.
The petition, launched by the civic organization Milion chvilek (A Million Moments), gained signatures rapidly, with roughly one added every two seconds, the organization stated. During its first three days, the petition website received over 350,000 visits, despite attempts to overload the site with more than 150,000 bots, according to Milion chvilek chairman Mikuláš Minář. “We had to simplify the entire website, continuously increase capacity and keep the system running. People were literally standing in a queue to sign,” Minář said.
The surge in support comes as Pavel faces criticism from some parties regarding the timeline for appointing a new cabinet, led by Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babiš. Pavel has requested that Babiš publicly address his conflict of interest related to ownership of the Agrofert holding company before he will be formally appointed. Babiš has pledged to do so, but also maintains he has 30 days to resolve the issue after being named prime minister.
Further complicating the situation is the nomination of Filip Turek, honorary president of the Motorist party, to a ministerial post. Initially proposed for the position of Minister of the Environment, Turek was later nominated as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Motorist party chair Petra Macinková proposed for the environment portfolio. Pavel has expressed reservations about Turek’s appointment, citing unspecified “legal reasons,” but has not elaborated publicly.
The support for Pavel mirrors a demonstration organized by Milion chvilek on Sunday, drawing an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 participants to Prague’s Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. The organization has indicated it will convene a larger rally on Letná Plain if the petition reaches one million signatures.