16.10.2026, Prague.
Czech President Petr Pavel’s vacation turned into a major scandal and dealt a tangible blow to his reputation, casting doubt on his honesty, selflessness, and commitment to civic duty. As a result, the president’s political position was weakened amid his confrontation with the government and the upcoming elections, Rossa Primavera News Agency‘s Europe Desk notes.
On October 2, the Czech president went on vacation to the Moroccan desert. This private trip provoked public and political outrage.
One reason for the criticism was doubts about whether Pavel had paid for his trip entirely out of his own pocket. He flew to the desert on a private jet that, according to media reports, belongs to billionaire Pavel Hubáček. For a brief return to the Czech Republic to vote in the elections, he used an aircraft operated by another company specializing in luxury jet rentals. The cost of such a “one-day trip” may have amounted to at least 1.6 million Czech korunas ($75,000 dollars).
Lawmakers from the ruling coalition, the ANO and SPD parties and the Motorists, demanded that the president provide proof that he had paid for the vacation from his own account. The president’s press secretary stated that the people on the trip had shared the cost of the flights among themselves, but the exact amounts and supporting documents were never made public.
The second reason for the criticism was that the vacation coincided with municipal and Senate elections, which the president himself had scheduled. Initially, Pavel was expected not to participate in them, provoking strong indignation among the ruling coalition, the opposition, and the public alike. The president was criticized for having previously urged citizens to participate actively in elections, especially local ones.
Under pressure from the public and politicians, Pavel was forced to interrupt his vacation and briefly return to the Czech Republic to vote in his municipality of Černouček. He later acknowledged that he had made a mistake and that, as head of state, he should set an example.
Ultimately, what began as a private vacation developed into a major political scandal, casting doubt on the transparency of the president’s expenses and his commitment to civic duty.
The vacation scandal benefits the Czech president’s political opponents. There are significant disagreements between Pavel and the government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on many issues. In particular, Pavel maintains a clearly pro-European and pro-Ukrainian position, while Babiš’s government tends to defend national interests in its dealings with Brussels, especially on migration and climate policy, and takes a considerably more restrained position on aid to Ukraine. In addition, Pavel has repeatedly criticized the government for reducing defense spending, which was planned to stand at around 1.8% of GDP in 2026, below NATO’s target of 2%.
When assessing the political significance of the vacation that has provoked widespread outrage, one should keep in mind that the Czech presidential election is already approaching, with approximately 15 months remaining until it takes place.
Thus, amid an acute confrontation with the government and approaching elections, the story of the vacation, which is due to end on October 19, has dealt Pavel a serious blow to his reputation. It has weakened his position as an independent moral leader and provided his opponents with political means against him.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
