Turek Sees the Role of Government Envoy as a Political, Not Executive Position

MP Filip Turek (Motorists for Themselves) views his position as envoy for climate policy and the Green Deal primarily as a political role rather than an executive one. He will issue recommendations and opinions and intends first and foremost to focus on emission allowances, which he believes are disadvantageous for the Czech Republic, as well as on simplifying emissions tariffs. He said this on the TV Nova discussion program Za pět minut dvanáct.

Turek believes that President Petr Pavel may still change his mind and appoint him as Minister of the Environment.

According to his own statement, Turek accepted the post of envoy as a compromise, as some agendas at the Ministry of the Environment need to be addressed urgently. As a first step, he wants to coordinate approaches to emission allowances with foreign partners and prepare an analysis of what can be done to counter them. He also wants to focus on the automotive industry. The MP reiterated that he does not want to receive a salary for his work as envoy.

According to Turek, the president exceeded his powers and is failing to fulfill his duties by not appointing him as minister. The MP believes that Pavel has a personal issue with him and that he wants to convince him of his own qualities. “I believe there is still a chance that he will change his mind. I can simply spend months showing that I am doing the job well and that I understand it,” he stated.

At the same time, he suggested that Pavel should have greater political experience in the role of president and pointed to his communist past. “He approved the entry of troops in 1968,” he said. He therefore believes the president should be more lenient regarding his missteps.

Pavel has repeatedly refused to appoint Turek, citing that the MP has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of respect for the Czech legal order. The number, intensity, and long-term nature of this conduct show that in his case it is not about isolated excesses, for example stemming from youthful recklessness, the president stated in a letter previously sent to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO).

On Monday, the government appointed Turek as the government envoy for climate policy and the Green Deal. According to Babiš, this is a temporary solution. Responsibility for the environment currently lies with Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists). According to Macinka, the Motorists continue to insist on Turek’s nomination.

A government envoy cannot lead a ministry, not even indirectly, lawyers previously consulted by ČTK agreed. According to them, this would constitute a circumvention of constitutional rules. Macinka said that the Ministry of the Environment will continue to be run by him together with a team of deputy ministers, and that the new envoy will also have a say.

According to Macinka, Turek will take over an office at the ministry from former minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL). He is expected to coordinate climate policy across ministries, engage in negotiations with individual expert groups, focus on the economic impacts of the proposed changes, and represent the Czech Republic at some EU and informal international meetings.

Source: iDnes