The Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial post, though the president plays an important role in foreign policy and government formation, according to Sean Hanley, an analyst at University College London.
Refusing to appoint Commissioner Topolanek or Commissioner Vondra, or re-appoint Commissioner Spidla (to cite the three names regarded as favourites for the post of the next Czech commissioner), would smack of collective punishment.
As president, he will represent the Czech Republic abroad and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank, but the post does not carry much day-to-day power.