Thread by @PetrVTuma

#Czechs have spoken. The new 🇨🇿 #president for the next 5Y will be Petr #Pavel, a retired general, former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (2015-2018), and strongly pro-Atlanticist defender of liberal-democratic values. ✌️🦁

Thread 🧵

Pavel defeated Andrej Babiš, a wealthy businessman, frmr PM (2017-2021), who led an aggressive populist campaign and brought up the Russian war against Ukraine as a key issue. Babiš called for „peace“ and accused the retired general of being a warmonger. 2/9

What happened in🇨🇿—discussion between a defender of continued support for🇺🇦 & those who are more reluctant (similar to Hungary’s Orbán or some republicans in the US)—is instructive for future electoral contests in Europe. 3/9

Elections were about the future of the political culture in the country, value of saying the truth in politics. 4/9

With Pavel’s accession to the Castle, prime minister Fiala and his government can breathe a sigh of relief. Czechs will now have a politically aligned government, parliament & president. The synergy should help in times of multi-layered crisis. 5/9

No major changes in foreign policy. Czechia will confirm its position as the region’s liberal-democratic stronghold and can lead in the region by example. Also, Brussels should feel relief. 6/9

Since the Russian aggression against Ukraine already shook up Prague's posture toward Moscow, there is not much to be shifted here. 7/9

Where one could imagine some change is Prague’s position vis-a-vis China & Taiwan. Peking-friendly frmr president Zeman used to create obstacles for gov & legislators. Now, Czechs could seriously consider leaving the agonizing 14+1 China/CEE platform. 8/9

Pavel will be a predictable president, not throwing diplomatic bombs. He’s a do-man and will walk the talk. He may turn out to be a less proactive president than his predecessors, but it may be a good thing for the parliamentary republic. 9/9