Czech President Accuses Top Diplomat of Potential Extortion

Czech President Petr Pavel accused the nation’s foreign minister of engaging in potential extortion over the head of state’s refusal to appoint a candidate from the cabinet minister’s party to the government.

Pavel, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, said Foreign Minister Petr Macinka sent text messages to his main adviser over his refusal to appoint Filip Turek. Pavel said he found the exchanges unacceptable and will seek a legal assessment on their nature.