Candidate for Czech FM role faces scrutiny as racist social media posts surface

The Czech Republic’s nominee for foreign minister, Filip Turek, is facing allegations of having posted racist and xenophobic content on social media, as coalition talks to form a new government following the recent general elections continue.

Turek — a right-wing politician from the Motorist Party and the leading candidate for the foreign minister post — allegedly published racist, sexist, and homophobic statements on Facebook, along with references to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, according to the Czech outlet Denik N.

The country’s election winner, Andrej Babiš of the populist ANO Movement, commented on the controversy on October 11 by calling the allegations “serious" and demanding an explanation.

Babiš is currently negotiating a coalition with the Motorists and the far-right, anti-EU, and anti-immigration SPD Party, with a preliminary agreement between the three reached on October 10.

Motorist Party leader Petr Macinka defended Turek, saying that he had “full confidence” in him and that the reports were hindering the government formation process.

He is reported to have also posted racist remarks about the former US President Barack Obama and the wife of the British monarchy's Prince Harry, Meghan, who is of mixed race.

This is not the first time Turek has faced controversy. During the 2024 European Parliament election campaign, he was accused of performing gestures resembling Nazi salutes, owning Nazi-themed knives, and committing violence against his partner.

Turek has denied all allegations, claiming he never authored the posts in question and has vowed to take legal action.

By Nazrin Sadigova