Petr Pavel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Petr Pavel
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 4th President of the Czech Republic | |
| Assumed office 9 March 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | Petr Fiala |
| Preceded by | Miloš Zeman |
| Chair of the NATO Military Committee | |
| In office 26 June 2015 – 29 June 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Knud Bartels |
| Succeeded by | Stuart Peach |
| Chief of the General Staff | |
| In office 1 July 2012 – 1 May 2015 |
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| President | |
| Preceded by | Vlastimil Picek |
| Succeeded by | Josef Bečvář |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1961 Planá, Czechoslovakia |
| Political party |
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| Spouses |
Hana Pavlová
(m. 1986–2001)Eva Pavlová
(m. 2004) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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| Awards |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Czechoslovakia (1979–1992) Czech Republic (1993–2018) |
| Branch/service | Czechoslovak People's Army (1979–1990) Czechoslovak Army (1990–1992) Czech Army (1993–2018) |
| Years of service | 1979–2018 |
| Rank | Army general |
| Battles/wars |
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Petr Pavel (born November 1, 1961) is a Czech politician and a retired army general. He is currently the President of the Czech Republic, a role he has held since March 2023. Before becoming president, he was the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 2015 to 2018. He also served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces from 2012 to 2015.
Pavel was born in Planá, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. He joined the military right after finishing military academy in 1983. He served in the Czechoslovak People's Army. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, he joined the new Czech Army. He gained international recognition for helping to evacuate a French military base during the Croatian War of Independence in 1993.
Pavel moved up in the military ranks. He became the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces. Later, he was chosen to lead the NATO Military Committee. He was the first military officer from a former Eastern Bloc country to hold this important position. He retired from the military in 2018 after 44 years of service.
In 2021, Pavel decided to run for president in the 2023 Czech presidential election. He promised to work closely with NATO allies and support Ukraine. He also wanted the Czech Republic to be more involved in the European Union. Pavel won the election in the second round with 58% of the votes. He became the fourth president of the Czech Republic. He is the second president with a military background.
In his first 100 days as president, Pavel appointed new judges. He also made 11 international trips. This included a visit to Kyiv and Dnipro in Ukraine. He was the first foreign leader to visit Eastern Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Petr Pavel was born on November 1, 1961, in Planá, Czechoslovakia. His father was an intelligence officer in the military. Pavel went to the Jan Žižka Military Gymnasium in Opava. He then studied at the Military University of the Ground Forces in Vyškov. He graduated in 1983 and became a paratrooper in the Czechoslovak Army.
In 1985, Pavel joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. He left the party after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. He later said joining the Communist Party was a mistake. He felt he made up for it by serving the democratic cause.
After 1989, he continued his military studies. He studied at the Military Academy in Brno. He also studied at several international colleges. These included the King's College London, where he earned a Master's degree in international relations.
Military Career
Serving with the United Nations
From 1991 to 1993, Pavel worked in military intelligence. He then served with the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia. In January 1993, his unit helped evacuate a French military post called Karin Base. This base was under attack by Serbian troops.
Pavel led 29 soldiers and two armored vehicles to the base. The journey was difficult, with obstacles and mortar fire. When they arrived, two French soldiers had died, and others were hurt. Pavel's unit successfully evacuated 55 French soldiers. He received awards from both the Czech Republic and France for his bravery.
Rising Through the Ranks
After his service in Bosnia, Pavel held many important roles in the Czech Army. He worked in military intelligence and diplomacy. He represented the Czech Republic in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States.
- From 1993 to 1994, he was a deputy military attaché in Belgium.
- From 1999 to 2002, he worked at the NATO headquarters in Brunssum.
- In 2003, he was a liaison officer during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in Qatar.
Pavel became a brigadier general in 2002. He served in various leadership positions within the Ministry of Defence. He was also the Czech Republic's military representative to the European Union in Brussels. He became a major general in 2010 and a lieutenant general in 2012.
In 2011, he helped write a report called the White Book on Defense. This report looked at the state of the Czech Republic's defense and suggested improvements. From 2011 to 2012, he was the Deputy Chief of the General Staff. On June 1, 2012, he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff.
Leading the NATO Military Committee
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In 2014, Petr Pavel was nominated to be the Chair of the NATO Military Committee. He was chosen for this role in September 2014. He was the first person from a former Warsaw Pact country to lead this committee. His term began in 2015.
During his time as chairman, Pavel dealt with several important global events. These included the Turkish invasion of Afrin and the growing influence of China. He also worked on NATO's response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. He tried to restart talks with Russia, even though he saw Russia as a major threat.
When his term ended in 2018, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, praised Pavel. He said Pavel led the Military Committee very well during a key time for NATO. Pavel received the Commander of the Legion of Merit for his work.
Life After the Army
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After leaving the army in 2018, Pavel became a lecturer and consultant. He also took part in conferences for the Aspen Institute. In 2019, he helped start an organization called 'Pro bezpečnou budoucnost' (For a safe future).
On April 6, 2020, Pavel launched the 'Spolu silnější' (Stronger Together) initiative. This project aimed to help people fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. It raised money for volunteers in hospitals and for making medical tools. The initiative also worked to prepare the country for future crises. Pavel met with experts and authorities to gather information. He then presented an anti-crisis plan to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
Presidential Campaign
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In 2019, political leaders discussed possible candidates for the next presidential election. Petr Pavel was a popular choice. On June 29, 2022, Pavel officially announced he would run in the 2023 Czech presidential election. He said he wanted the Czech Republic to be proud of its president.
Pavel started his official campaign on September 6, 2022. He promised to bring "order and peace to the Czech Republic." He ran on a platform that supported Western values and the European Union. He also supported NATO. On October 4, 2022, he was one of three candidates supported by the Spolu political alliance.
The first round of the election was held in January 2023. Pavel received 35.4% of the votes. He moved on to the second round against former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Pavel won the second round with 58.32% of the votes. He became the fourth president of the Czech Republic.
After his win, leaders from other countries congratulated him. He planned his first foreign trips to Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine. He also spoke with the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen. This call showed his support for closer ties between the Czech Republic and Taiwan.
Presidency
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Before his inauguration, Pavel gave many interviews. He spoke with leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. He was inaugurated as president on March 9, 2023. In his speech, he spoke about dignity, respect, and decency. His first trip as president was to Slovakia.
During his first 100 days, Pavel worked to make Prague Castle more open to the public. He also tried to improve communication within the presidential office. Public trust in the president increased to 58%. Pavel appointed three judges to the Constitutional Court. He also spoke to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Political experts praised his open communication.
Pavel visited all neighboring countries by June 2023. These included Slovakia, Poland, Germany, and Austria. He wanted to improve cooperation with Germany. His visit to Bavaria on a motorcycle in May 2023 got a lot of attention.
Pavel strongly supports Ukraine in its war against Russia. He believes Western countries should continue to stand together. In April 2023, he was the first foreign president to visit eastern Ukraine since the war began. He offered Czech support for rebuilding the region.
In 2023, Pavel gave speeches at important international meetings. These included the Council of Europe Summit and the UN General Assembly. He spoke about fighting populism and supporting Europe's principles. He urged people not to get tired of the war and to avoid making deals with Russia.
On January 15, 2024, Pavel visited Israel. He showed support for the country during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. He later visited Qatar to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Political Views
Foreign Policy
Pavel has strong pro-Western views. He believes the Czech Republic should be an active member of the European Union and NATO. He supported Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion. He called it a "war against the system of international relations." He urged for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He believes Ukraine can win the war. He also supports Ukraine joining the NATO alliance after the war ends.
Pavel has said that a soldier defends their country and its people. He believes soldiers fight for the people they care about. He has stated that politicians start wars, and soldiers then have to solve them. He has apologized for a past statement from 1987. In that statement, he seemed to understand the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops. He now condemns the invasion.
Domestic Policy
During his presidential campaign, Pavel described his views as "right of centre, with a strong social emphasis." He has suggested that wealthy people should pay higher taxes. He supports a stronger redistribution of wealth. He has mentioned Scandinavian countries as an example.
Personal Life
Petr Pavel speaks Czech, English, French, and Russian. He has two sons from his first marriage. He is now married to his second wife, Eva Pavlová. She is a lieutenant colonel in the Czech Army. Pavel lives in Černouček. He is an atheist. Pavel enjoys riding motorcycles. In May 2024, he had a minor accident while riding his motorcycle and was briefly hospitalized.
Honours
National Honours
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- Czechoslovakia:
- Medal for Service to the Fatherland (1988)
- Czech Republic:
- Medal of Heroism (1995)
- Medal ribbon For service in the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
- Medal of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Class
- Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, 2nd & 3rd Class
- Medal of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic For service abroad, 3rd & 3rd Class
- Honorary Commemorative Badge For the Service of Peace
- State Defence Cross of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic (2018)
- Order of the White Lion (ex officio, 2023)
- Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (ex officio, 2023)
Foreign Honours
- United Nations: United Nations 'In The Service Of Peace' Medal – UNPROFOR (1993)
- France:
- Cross for Military Valour with Bronze Star (1993)
- Officer of the Legion of Honour (2012)
- Commander of the National Order of Merit (2016)
- Bulgaria: Badge of Honour of the Ministry of Defence "Saint George", 1st Class (2017)
- Belgium: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (2018)
- United States: Commander of the Legion of Merit (2018)
- Slovakia: Order of the White Double Cross, 1st Class (2024)
See also
In Spanish: Petr Pavel para niños
