Czech Prime Minister proposes man accused of rape as minister

Babis's ANO party won an October election and teamed up with two smaller eurosceptic parties -- the far-right SPD and the rightwing Motorists -- to form a coalition cabinet that took oath in December.

But Babis omitted Filip Turek, the Motorists' candidate for environment minister, as President Petr Pavel baulked at his inclusion.

Turek, a 40-year-old former car racer turned European Parliament member in 2024, is under investigation for domestic violence and rape following a complaint filed by a former girlfriend.

Media have published Turek's misogynistic and racist posts on social networks, and police also probed allegations that he owned Nazi paraphernalia and gave the Nazi salute, before shelving the case.

"Following a deal with the Motorists, I have submitted Mr Turek's nomination to Mr President," Babis told reporters.

"Although I tried to persuade Mr President for an hour to wave it aside and commit a good deed and give Mr Turek a chance, Mr President has refused," he added.

The Motorists originally wanted Turek to be the foreign minister in the EU and NATO country of more than 10 million people, but they backed down following public outrage.

Motorists chairman Petr Macinka is currently serving as both foreign and environment minister pending a decision on Turek.

After meeting Turek before Christmas, Pavel said his actions "raise doubts about his loyalty to the values set out in the Czech constitution".

"The president is deeply convinced that a person behaving this way cannot be a minister in the Czech government," said Pavel's office.

Lawyer Jan Kysela, an expert on the constitution, told AFP Pavel should name Turek according to the constitution.

But the constitutional article on ministerial appointments is vague enough to make Pavel's refusal to name Turek not "excessive", Kysela said.

"The president has many good reasons why he doesn't want to name him," he said. "I think he won't name him."

Babis himself is facing trial over EU subsidy fraud, while SPD chairman Tomio Okamura, the new parliament speaker, is due to stand trial over inciting hatred.

Critics have suggested Babis and Okamura might back each other up when police ask for them to be stripped of parliamentary immunity to stand trial.