Pavlová explains why she skipped the vote in Czech elections

The wife of Czech President Pavel, Pavlová, explained on Friday why she did not go to the municipal elections: it was not indifference but a way to raise the question of the state not letting people who are far from home cast a ballot. The president himself returned from abroad and did vote after all.

“I believe that one day it will be possible to vote in a way that lets citizens take part even if they are on a business trip, working abroad, living away from home for a long time, or facing other circumstances that make voting difficult,” Pavlová added. As early as Tuesday evening she criticised the fact that the state did not allow voting from abroad or from another place in Czechia, even though the date of the municipal elections was this time fixed firmly in law.

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar (ANO) rejected the criticism on the social network X. In his words, the electoral system of the whole country will not be changed just because the president scheduled a holiday for election days. If Prague Castle wants to open a discussion about online voting, Metnar believes, it should say so openly.

According to the initial statement from the president’s office, he was not supposed to vote either because of a private trip abroad. On Friday, however, the head of state returned to Czechia and voted in Černoučky before 3 p.m. He told reporters that his announced absence had been an error of judgment. “We all make mistakes, presidents included, and I consider this matter closed. I am glad I was able to do this and go to the polls, showing citizens that they should go too,” the president said.

The municipal and Senate elections continue: polling stations are open on Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second round of the Senate elections will take place next week.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz