Pavel-Babiš Budget Standoff: President to Meet PM Over 2026 State Budget Signature

President Petr Pavel met with PM Andrej Babiš at Prague Castle to discuss signing the 2026 state budget, approved by the lower house last week. The meeting comes amid a deepening power struggle between the two leaders over ambassador nominations and defense spending. The government also confirmed its rejection of the EU's 2035 combustion engine ban.