Petr Pavel

Petr Pavel (born 1 November 1961) is a retired Czech army general who served as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee from 2015 to 2018, and as Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army from 2012 to 2015.

He is a candidate in the 2023 Czech presidential election, to be held in January 2023.

Education

Pavel graduated from the military gymnasium in Opava. He continued his military study at the Military University of the Army in Vyškov, graduating in 1983. He joined the Czechoslovak Army as a Paratrooper, serving as a platoon leader. In 1985 he joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, remaining a member until the fall of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

Pavel continued his military studies at the Military Academy in Brno (currently united with the University of Defence) from 1988 to 1991.

Military career

Bosnia

After graduating, Pavel worked in the military intelligence service (1991–1993). He served in the Czechoslovak troop contingent of the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia. In January 1993, his unit was sent to evacuate a French military base, where French soldiers were under siege by Serbian troops. The French army was unable to evacuate the base due to the local infrastructure and bridge having been destroyed, and the Czech army was sent to conduct the evacuation as they were situated only 30 kilometres from the base. Pavel went to the base with 29 soldiers and 2 OT-64 SKOT armed transporters. During the two-hour journey, Pavel's unit faced various obstacles that slowed down the operation, including fallen trees on a road which soldiers had to remove while under mortar fire. When the unit reached the base, two French soldiers were dead and a few others injured. Eventually, 55 French soldiers were evacuated from the base in armed transporters. Pavel was recognized and awarded both in the Czech Republic and in France for his actions during the rescue.

Senior management career

After the operation in Bosnia, Pavel served in various positions in the Czech Army, including military intelligence, diplomacy (deputy military attaché in Belgium), and as commander of a special forces brigade. He was appointed Brigadier General in 2002. He then served as the National Military Representative at United States Central Command and represented the Czech Army in several international and national organizations. He studied at Staff College, Camberley, the Royal College of Defence Studies, and King's College London, graduating with a Master's degree in International Relations.

He served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic from July 2011 to June 2012. On 1 June 2012 he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff. He was nominated by the Czech government as Chair of the NATO Military Committee in July 2014, and appointed to this position in Vilnius in September 2014. He was the first chair of the organisation from a former Warsaw Pact member. His mandate commenced in 2015. During a security conference in Prague, in response to a statement by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that a rapid response force could respond to an attack on the Baltic states within two days, Pavel said "Russia would be able to occupy the Baltic States within two days".

Following his departure from the army, Pavel became a lecturer and consultant.

2023 Czech presidential election

In 2019, leaders of the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09, Mayors and Independents and Czech Pirate Party met to discuss potential candidates for the next presidential election. Pavel was reported to be the most discussed candidate at the meeting.

On 6 April 2020, Pavel launched the initiative "Stronger Together", with the aim of helping people linked with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially crowdfunding financial assistance for volunteers helping in hospitals or creating medical tools. Some political commentators such as Petr Holec and Ondřej Leinert linked the initiative to Pavel's potential presidential bid, noting similarities with Hillary Clinton's slogan during the 2016 United States presidential election.

On 29 June 2022, Pavel announced his intention to run in the 2023 Czech presidential election. He said he wanted to win the election so that the Czech Republic would not have to feel embarrassed by its president. Pavel launched his official campaign on 6 September 2022, saying he wanted to "return order and peace to the Czech Republic". On 4 October 2022 he was one of three candidates endorsed by the Spolu electoral alliance (the Civic Democratic Party, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09).

Personal life

Petr Pavel speaks Czech, English, French, and Russian. He is divorced and has two sons with his first wife, Hana. In the 1990s he married his second wife Eva, with whom he raised his two sons.

Before 2012, Pavel moved to Černouček, where he has lived ever since.

Pavel has a civilian gun license and carries a concealed firearm.

Political views

Pavel argues that rich people should pay higher taxes and supports stronger redistribution of wealth. He has cited Scandinavian countries as an inspiration. He supports same-sex marriage and adoption rights for homosexual people.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavel, Petr
1961 births
Alumni of King's College London
Commanders of the Legion of Merit
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia politicians
Czech generals
Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit
Living people
NATO officials
Officiers of the Légion d'honneur
People from Planá
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
Candidates in the 2023 Czech presidential election
Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic) presidential candidates
KDU-ČSL presidential candidates
TOP 09 presidential candidates
Chiefs of the General Staff (Czech Republic)
Recipients of Medal of Heroism (Czech Republic)