President Pavel faces criticism for skipping local election in his hometown

According to the presidential office, President Petr Pavel will be absent from the upcoming municipal election in Černouček, where he maintains his permanent residence, because he is on a private foreign trip. The decision has drawn criticism from opposition figures such as STAN parliamentary club chief Michaela Šebelová, who described the move as a bad signal to the electorate, and KDU-ČSL deputy Petr Hladík, who echoed the sentiment.

Former president of the Motoristů association, Filip Turek, also condemned the choice, stressing that voting is a cornerstone of democracy. Rally driver Martin Prokop posted a photo of Pavel at a rally in Morocco, confirming the overseas travel. The president still has time to reverse his decision before the election date.