Freedom and Direct Democracy

Last updated
Freedom and Direct Democracy
Svoboda a přímá demokracie
AbbreviationSPD
Leader Tomio Okamura
Deputy Leaders Radim Fiala
Ivan David
Radek Rozvoral
Radovan Vích
Founded5 May 2015 (2015-05-05)
Split from Dawn of Direct Democracy
HeadquartersRytířská 6, Prague [1]
NewspaperNa vlastní oči [2]
Youth wing Mladí Espéďáci
Membership (2021)9,000 [3]
Ideology
Political position Right-wing [12] [13] to
far-right [4] [14] [15] [16]
European affiliation Identity and Democracy Party
European Parliament group Identity and Democracy
Colours  Blue
Chamber of Deputies
20 / 200
Senate
0 / 81
European Parliament
2 / 21
Regional councils
35 / 675
Governors of the regions
0 / 13
Local councils
155 / 62,300
Website
http://www.spd.cz/

Freedom and Direct Democracy (Czech : Svoboda a přímá demokracie, SPD) is a right-wing populist political party in the Czech Republic. [17] It is led by Tomio Okamura and it holds 20 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Contents

It has been described as right-wing [12] [18] or far-right on the political spectrum. [19] [20] [21] It expresses opposition to immigration [9] [22] and it is staunchly Eurosceptic, [11] while in their political program they state their support for direct democracy. [5]

History

The party was founded in May 2015 by Tomio Okamura and Radim Fiala when eight Members of Parliament split from the Dawn of Direct Democracy parliamentary group. As the party was newly-formed in that parliamentary term, these MPs sat as independents until the 2017 Czech legislative election. Following that election, the party now holds 22 seats in the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

Freedom and Direct Democracy is named after the European Parliament Eurosceptic political group Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy. [23] [24] [25] The party has links with Marine Le Pen's National Front which is a member of the Europe of Nations and Freedom, a separate Eurosceptic political group in the European Parliament [26] and Marine Le Pen endorsed SPD before the 2017 Czech legislative election. [27]

In December 2017, SPD hosted a conference of the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom in Prague, with parties such as the French National Front, Dutch Party for Freedom, Freedom Party of Austria and Lega Nord of Italy. [28]

In 2019, following the European Parliament elections, the SPD entered the European Parliament with two MEPs, who sit with the Identity and Democracy group. [29]

In July 2020, SPD MP Tereza Hyťhová defected to become the third MP for the Tricolour Citizens' Movement. [30]

During the 2021 Czech legislative election, the SPD finished fourth with 20 MPs. [31]

Policies and ideology

On its website and policy brief, SPD refers to itself as "a patriotic and democratic movement" with a focus on political reform, law and order, direct democracy, entrepreneurship and national sovereignty. It also claims to seek support from ordinary working citizens, small business owners and middle class professionals. The party also wants to reduce state-surveillance, reform the Czech tax system, support internet freedom and encourage more citizen led participation in national politics. [32] Political commentators have variously described the party as right-wing populist, nationalist and anti-immigration in its platform and rhetoric. [9] [22]

The party is opposed to Czech membership of the European Union and calls for the Czech Republic to leave the bloc. The party also wants to pursue a more restrictive immigration policy, particularly towards immigration from Islamic nations, and rejects multiculturalism. It is strongly opposed to illegal immigration and the EU's policy of migrant quotas. The party itself claims that it does not seek to promote hatred towards any race or culture, but argues for the protection of "Judeo-Christian" values [33] and believes that migrant quotas will lead to the "Islamization" of Europe. [34] [35] [36]

Organisation

Membership

Tomio Okamura often claims that SPD has a membership of thousands of members. In October 2017 he claimed that SPD has 7,000 members, [37] and in November 2017 12,000 members.[ citation needed ] Doubt has been cast on these figures, with the suggestion that Okamura often conflates numbers of supporters with actual members. It was reported in 2015 that SPD had only 20 members, compared to Okamura's claims of 10,000.[ citation needed ] In February 2018 the party stated that it had 1,200 members. [38] The party had 1,400 members in July 2018. [39]

Election results

Chamber of Deputies

YearVoteVote %Seats±PlaceGovernment
2015
8 / 200
Split from Dawn opposition
2017 538,57410.64
22 / 200
Increase2.svg 144thopposition
2021 513,9009.56
20 / 200
Decrease2.svg 24thopposition

Senate

ElectionFirst roundSecond roundSeatsNotes
Votes%PlacesVotes%Places
2016 5,9880.6820th 
0 / 27
2018 7593.347th 
0 / 1
By-election in Trutnov district.
2018 6974.098th 
0 / 1
By-election in Zlín district. Lubomír Nečas was a SPO candidate supported by SPD.
2018 70,1106.447th 
0 / 27
2020 61,3526.157th 
0 / 27

Local election

YearVoteVote %PlaceSeats
2018
155 / 61,892

European Parliament

ElectionVotesShare of votes in %Seats obtainedPlace
2019
216,718
9.14%
2 / 21
5th

Regional election

YearVoteVote %Seats+/-PlaceNote
2016 153,0995.7
18 / 675
6thParticipated in coalition with Party of Civic Rights
2020 169,9786.1
35 / 675
Increase2.svg 175th

Prague municipal elections

YearLeaderVoteVote %Seats+/−PlacePosition
2018 Hynek Beran 895,8593.54%
0 / 65
06th

Representation

Chamber of Deputies

European parliament

Related Research Articles

Euroscepticism Body of criticism of the European Union

Euroscepticism, also spelled as Euroskepticism or EU-scepticism, is a political position involving criticism of the European Union (EU) and European integration. It ranges from those who oppose some EU institutions and policies, and seek reform, to those who oppose EU membership and see the EU as unreformable. The opposite of Euroscepticism is known as pro-Europeanism, or European Unionism.

Czech Social Democratic Party Centre-left Czech political party

The Czech Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Czech Republic. Sitting on the centre-left of the political spectrum and holding pro-European views, it is a member of the Party of European Socialists, the Socialist International, and the Progressive Alliance. Masaryk Democratic Academy is the party-affiliated's think tank.

Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic) Czech political party

The Civic Democratic Party is a liberal-conservative and soft eurosceptic political party in the Czech Republic. It holds 34 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, and is the second strongest party by number of seats following the 2021 election. It is the only political party in the Czech Republic that has always been represented in the Chamber of Deputies.

Czech Pirate Party Political party in the Czech Republic

The Czech Pirate Party or Pirates is a liberal progressive political party in the Czech Republic, founded in 2009. The party was founded as a student-driven grassroots movement campaigning for political transparency, civil rights and direct democracy.

Tomio Okamura Czech far-right politician

Tomio Okamura is a Czech far-right politician and entrepreneur of Moravian Wallachian, Japanese and Korean ethnicity. He founded the Czech political parties Dawn of Direct Democracy and Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD). Since October 2013, he has been Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (MP), initially for Dawn of Direct Democracy and then from May 2015 for SPD, of which he is also leader. He previously served as an independent Senator for Zlín district from October 2012 until his election to the Chamber of Deputies a year later.

Petr Fiala Czech politician

Petr Fiala is a Czech politician and political scientist who has been the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic since November 2021 and leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) since 2014. He previously served as the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports from 2012 to 2013.

2017 Czech legislative election Election in the Czech Republic

Legislative elections were held in the Czech Republic on 20 and 21 October 2017. All 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected and Andrej Babiš of ANO 2011, also the leader of the resultant government, became the Prime Minister. The coalition government following the 2013 legislative election consisted of the two largest parties: the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) of Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, and ANO 2011 (ANO), led by former Finance Minister and businessman Andrej Babiš, alongside the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU–ČSL). The largest opposition party was the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM), followed by centre-right parties TOP 09 and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).

Dawn – National Coalition Political party in the Czech Republic

Dawn – National Coalition, short Dawn, Dawn of Direct Democracy or Tomio Okamura's Dawn of Direct Democracy, was a right-wing populist, Eurosceptic political party in the Czech Republic.

ANO 2011 Czech political party

ANO 2011, often shortened to simply ANO, is a populist political party in the Czech Republic. The party was founded by Andrej Babiš.

2021 Czech legislative election Czech Republic election

Legislative elections were held in the Czech Republic on 8 and 9 October 2021. All 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected, with the leader of the resulting government to become the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Following the 2017 Czech legislative election, the country has been ruled by a minority government consisting of ANO 2011 (ANO), led by prime minister Andrej Babiš, and the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), led by interior minister Jan Hamáček, with confidence and supply support from the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) until April 2021. The largest opposition party was the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), followed by the Czech Pirate Party. Other parties in the Chamber of Deputies included SPD, TOP 09, STAN, and KDU-ČSL.

Volya Movement is a right-wing populist political party in Bulgaria. Before 2016, it was known variously as Today and Liberal Alliance. The party was established by Bulgarian businessman Veselin Mareshki, ostensibly on principles of anti-corruption and anti-elitism.

Euroscepticism, i.e. the opposition to policies of supranational European Union institutions and/or opposition to membership of the European Union, is a significant element in the politics of the Czech Republic, with several parties and political figures favouring leaving the union. According to a survey by CVVM in April 2016, 25% of Czechs were satisfied with European Union membership.

Democratic Bloc was a parliamentary alliance formed in 2017 by four Centre-right parties. Parties agreed to cooperate in parliament. Czech Pirate Party and Czech Social Democratic Party were also offered participation but both parties declined. It was announced on 15 November 2017 on a Press Conference by Petr Fiala. Fiala stated that Democratic Bloc isn't meant to be a long term coalition but its only task is to take over initiative during negotiations of parliament's body and for constituent meeting. Democratic Bloc was dissolved on 21 December 2017.

The Freedom and Direct Democracy leadership election of 2015 was held on 4 August 2015. Tomio Okamura was elected the first leader of the party.

2018 Freedom and Direct Democracy leadership election

The Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leadership election of 2018 was held on 14 July 2018. Tomio Okamura was elected for second term.

Identity and Democracy European Parliament political group

Identity and Democracy is a right-wing to far-right political group of the European Parliament, launched on 13 June 2019 for the Ninth European Parliament term. It is composed of nationalist, right-wing populist and eurosceptic national parties from ten European nations. It is the successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom group formed during the eighth term.

Radovan Vích Czech politician

Radovan Vích is a Czech politician and an MP in the Chamber of Deputies for the Freedom and Direct Democracy party since 2017.

Jaroslav Holík is a Czech politician and a former member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2021.

2021 Freedom and Direct Democracy leadership election

The Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leadership election of 2021 was held on 4 December 2021. Tomio Okamura was elected for third term.

Institute of Freedom and Direct Democracy is a think-tank affiliated with Institute of Freedom and Direct Democracy.

References

  1. ↑ "Seznam politických stran a hnutí - Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky". aplikace.mvcr.cz.
  2. ↑ demokracie, SPD - Svoboda a přímá. "Tomio Okamura: První číslo nových novin SPD - Na vlastní oči | SPD - Svoboda a přímá demokracie". www.spd.cz. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Členská základna ODS je větší než ČSSD, z mladých uskupení nejvíce roste SPD". ČT24 (in Czech). Česká televize. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "European Election Watch Czech Republic". Center for Strategic and International Studies . Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Czechia". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  6. ↑ "Volební zisky evropské krajní pravice jsou zatím vyšší než české". ceskapozice.lidovky.cz (in Czech). 23 December 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Revoluce v Evropě? Něco se děje, podívejte se na Česko, píše se v Británii". EuroZprávy.cz. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Beran, Vojtěch (13 November 2016). "42 "vlasteneckých" a nacionalistických skupin v Česku". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Okamura registers new anti-immigrant party Freedom and Direct Democracy". spd.cz. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "Czech far-right leader Tomio Okamura urges citizens to walk pigs near mosques to defend country from Islam". 5 January 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  11. 1 2 Brack, Nathalie; Startin, Nicholas (2015). "Introduction: Euroscepticism, from the margins to the mainstream". International Political Science Review. 36 (3): 244. doi:10.1177/0192512115577231. ISSN   0192-5121. S2CID   145663358.
  12. 1 2 "Czech President Calls EU 'Cowards' on Yerushalayim". Hamodia . 10 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "New Czech PM Babiš prepares to talk migration, reforms at EU summit". Euractiv . 7 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Far-right scores surprise success in Czech election. Reuters. Authors - Robert Muller and Jan Lopatka. Published 21 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  15. ↑ Far-Right Czech election ‘kingmaker’ calls for referendum on EU membership ‘just like Britain’. The Telegraph. Author - Matthew Day. Published 19 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  16. ↑ Babiš’ Czech Republic: too thin a gruel?. openDemocracy. Author - Michal Simecka. Published 20 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017
  17. ↑ Fernando Casal Bertoa. "The Czech Republic finally has a new government: it has a prosecuted populist Prime Minister and is supported by the Communists". Who Governs Europe. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  18. ↑ "New Czech PM Babiš prepares to talk migration, reforms at EU summit". Euractiv . 7 December 2017.
  19. ↑ Reuters (2021-09-22). "Czech far right sets 'Czexit' referendum law as price for post-vote talks". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  20. ↑ "What chance of a referendum on 'Czexit' after this weekend's election?". euronews. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  21. ↑ "Czech Republic at heart of fight for Europe". POLITICO. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  22. 1 2 "Okamura tells daily Freedom and Direct Democracy Party wants to be part of coalition government". Radio Prague International. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  23. ↑ "» Rozhovor Tomia Okamury pro EuroZprávy.cz" . Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Okamura a Fiala skončili v hnutí Úsvit, zakládají novou stranu" . Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  25. ↑ https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096898594-udalosti-komentare/4322-rekli-v-udalostech-komentarich/?strana=4 Archived October 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ "Tomio Okamura svolal všechny své lidi a bylo rušno: Nepřátelští vetřelci! Pokus o vraždu. Delegace od Marine Le Pen i provolání k Zemanovi" . Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  27. ↑ Mouvement pour une Europe des Nations et des Libertés (19 October 2017). "Marine Le Pen supports Tomio Okamura, President of the SPD, member of the MENF" – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ "Le Pen to appear at December event with Okamura in Prague - Radio Prague". 15 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "Czechia sends representatives of populist ANO, neo-fascist SPD and Communists to European Parliament". intellinews.com. 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  30. ↑ "Hyťhová opouští poslanecký klub SPD, bude spolupracovat s Trikolórou". iDNES.cz. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Results". E15.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2021-10-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ↑ "Program".
  33. ↑ "Program".
  34. ↑ "Far-right leaders gather in Prague ahead of EU vote". Euractive. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  35. ↑ "In Prague, Europe's far-right celebrates the Austrian coalition". Euractive. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  36. ↑ "Far-right scores surprise success in Czech election". Reuters. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  37. ↑ "Okamura chce s SPD do vlády. Podmínkou je pro něj zákon o referendu". Euro.cz (in Czech). 6 October 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  38. ↑ "Nové straníky táhne do partají volební úspěch i propad". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  39. ↑ "Okamura zítra obhajuje post šéfa SPD". MF Dnes. Retrieved 14 July 2018.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.