Turek ended up in hospital: First words from the bed! He told Blesk about the examination and the threat of surgery

President Petr Pavel continued meetings today with the ministerial nominees of the emerging coalition government of ANO, SPD, and Motorists. Culture Minister nominee Oto Klempíř arrived at the Castle, and controversial candidate for Minister of the Environment, Filip Turek, apologized, saying that old back problems had flared up — according to his party colleagues, he is suffering from a herniated disc. After Klempíř, the potential future Minister of Sport, Prevention, and Health Boris Šťastný (Motorists) scheduled his meeting with the president.

Šťastný revealed that Turek is hospitalized with a herniated disc and under strong pain medication. Later, Turek himself spoke up.

Šťastný said that the MP and honorary president of the Motorists is undergoing intensive IV therapy. “It’s not just that he couldn’t even move around in a wheelchair — he’s on powerful painkillers, which complicates his work and activities in the coming hours and days,” Šťastný described Turek’s condition. He added that he could not predict how Turek’s condition would develop in the next hours or days.

The discussions with the president did not cover broader aspects of the government formation. “No matters regarding other nominees or timing were opened,” Šťastný said.

Turek told Blesk that he was glad to be hospitalized, because “visiting for IV drips had become physically impossible and I am now in the hands of real professionals. I’ve had an MRI, lots of nourishing drips, and it’s actually liberating that I have to rest even though not every examination and the herniated disc itself are pleasant.”

He added that spinal surgery is being offered again after a year, but he is trying to postpone it due to time constraints and other circumstances. From his hospital bed, he also recorded a video in which he said he had been suffering from “terrible pain.”

In that video, he also said that he wanted to present to the president his concept for how the Ministry of the Environment should function, which he called a Green Deal ministry — the issue he believes got him elected both to the European Parliament and to the Chamber of Deputies. He said that he and the Motorists want to protect industry, households, and living standards in Europe and especially in the Czech Republic, because decisions will be made at the upcoming EU Environment Council meetings on issues such as banning internal combustion engine cars or emission allowances for households.

The article also mentions that President Pavel has repeatedly stated he has concerns about Turek’s appointment. Turek has faced criticism for racist and homophobic posts on social media, which he has apologized for, though he denies authorship of some. Controversy also arose over his property disclosures and an allegation that eight years ago he threatened an employee of the Saudi Arabian embassy.

Additionally, Turek faced criticism for allegedly threatening an opponent with the words, “I’ll heil into your face” during a commemoration of November 17.

Despite this, the Motorists are not seeking a replacement for Turek, believing he could convince the president. Turek calls his controversies “media issues” and has said he wants to explain them to the president.

The article continues with unrelated context about the coalition’s proposed public media fee policy and discussions about public broadcasting fees, which are part of broader political developments but not central to Turek’s health situation.

Source: Blesk