Czech President Petr Pavel on Tuesday accused Foreign Minister Petr Macinka of blackmail in an extraordinary dispute over the government’s controversial pick for environment minister.

The rift between Pavel and Macinka points to a deeper divide in Czech politics, pitting Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s anti-establishment, right-wing coalition government against a staunchly pro-Western president and former NATO general committed to the alliance and the EU.

“He can have peace if I get [right-wing populist Filip] Turek at the Environment Ministry. If not, I’ll burn bridges in a way that will end up in political science textbooks as an extreme case of cohabitation,” Macinka wrote in a text message to Pavel’s adviser, adding that he has the support of the populist prime minister and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), the other coalition partner.

Macinka added that the president will be “surprised by the consequences” if he “does nothing, or at least refuses to enter into negotiations over Turek,” adding that “he is ready to brutally fight with the president for Turek.”

Pavel, who holds veto power over ministerial appointments, blocked Turek from becoming environment minister over his embroilment in various scandals.

“I consider the foreign minister’s words in the text messages to be an attempt at blackmail. I regard that as unacceptable and, under our democratic conditions, absolutely intolerable,” Pavel said in a press conference Tuesday.

Pavel, who published the text messages addressed to his adviser, said he will contact the police, which confirmed it has received the report.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Macinka rejected claims of blackmail, accused the president of overstepping constitutional limits by vetoing Turek and threatened Pavel’s participation in July’s NATO summit.

‘Hostage to personal animosities’

Turek, honorary president of the right-wing populist Motorists for Themselves party from which Macinka also hails, has been investigated for sexual assault, racist, sexist, and homophobic Facebook posts, and an image of him making a Nazi salute, all of which he denies.

“If he really has the support of the Prime Minister … then Petr Macinka’s statements are not only an illustration of the new government’s approach to power-sharing in our constitutional order, but also proof that the fundamental issues of our foreign and security policy have become hostage to personal animosities and interests,” the president said Tuesday.

Pavel previously noted that strong pro-NATO and pro-EU stances, along with safeguarding the country’s democratic institutions and respecting the constitution, will be key factors in his decision-making regarding the proposed Cabinet.

Babiš said in a post on X that Macinka’s words were “unfortunate” but refuted claims about blackmail. “It was in a private communication with his adviser, so it definitely isn’t blackmail,” Babiš said.

Pavel’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Macinka’s office said the minister will speak at a press conference later.

Jakob Weizman contributed to this report.