Czech Republic Babis government survives vote of no confidence after text message scandal
The still young right-wing government in the Czech Republic under Prime Minister and billionaire Andrej Babis has survived its first motion of no confidence in parliament. The opposition failed in its attempt to topple the three-party coalition after only around seven weeks in office. On Wednesday evening, 84 MPs voted in favor of the motion of censure with 99 votes against. A total of 101 votes would have been required for the motion to be passed.
04.02.2026, 20:42
SDA
The motion was triggered by controversial text messages sent by the new Foreign Minister Petr Macinka to President Petr Pavel. The politician from the Motorists party is said to have tried to force the appointment of his party colleague Filip Turek as Environment Minister. The President continues to refuse to swear in Turek and is demanding a replacement candidate. His decision is "final", a spokesperson for the head of state announced on Wednesday.
Several days of exchanges in parliament
Pavel denied the 40-year-old Turek's suitability for the ministerial office due to earlier controversial statements that were perceived by many as racist and sexist. Macinka then threatened him that he would "brutally" and "without scruples" fight for his party colleague Turek and "burn the bridges" between the government and the president, as can be seen from the published text messages.
Before the vote, the MPs engaged in a two-day exchange of blows at the lectern. Industry Minister Karel Havlicek called the opposition a "bag of fleas" without a real leader. Their representatives replied that the government had reached a moral low point. Just last Sunday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Prague to show their solidarity with ex-Nato General Pavel, who is considered liberal and pro-Western.
