Last week, Czech Radio reported that Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army Karel Řehka had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. According to several independent sources, the resignation was allegedly due to disagreements with Defense Minister Jana Černochová. However, Prime Minister Fiala refused to accept the resignation and persuaded Řehka to remain in office.
Respekt, Novinky and Deník N have reported that the resignation was the result of an escalation in long-standing disputes between Řehka and Černochová over competences. Neither Řehka nor Černochová have commented on the matter.
The Czech Army is an important part of the country’s defense system and it is essential that the Chief of the General Staff and the Defense Minister work together in harmony. It is hoped that the Prime Minister’s intervention will help to resolve the dispute and ensure that the Czech Army can continue to operate effectively.