Tricolour (political party)

Last updated
Tricolour
Trikolora
AbbreviationTrikolora
Leader Zuzana Majerová
Deputy Leaders Jan Tesař
Founder Václav Klaus Jr.
Founded25 June 2019 (2019-06-25)
Split from Civic Democratic Party
HeadquartersFreyova 82/27, Praha 9 – Vysočany
Think tank Center for Civil Liberties [1]
Membership (2020)1,774 [2]
Ideology National conservatism [3] [4]
Social conservatism
Fiscal conservatism [5]
Laissez-faire capitalism [6]
Klausism
Hard Euroscepticism [7]
Political position Right-wing [8] to far-right [9]
Colours    Tricolour of white, red and blue
Chamber of Deputies
0 / 200
Senate
0 / 81
European Parliament
0 / 21
Regional councils
1 / 675
Governors of the regions
0 / 13
Local councils
1 / 61,892
Prague City Assembly
0 / 65
Website
www.volimtrikoloru.cz

The Tricolour (Czech : Trikolora, previously known as the Tricolour Citizens' Movement) is a hard Eurosceptic, fiscally conservative, and national-conservative political party in the Czech Republic. [10] [11]

Contents

The founder and the former leader of the movement is Václav Klaus Jr., a former member of the Chamber of Deputies who was expelled from the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) on 16 March 2019. The movement's chief foreign policy adviser is his father Václav Klaus, an economist, politician, and former President and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Klaus Sr. was also the founder of ODS. [12] [13] [14] [15]

The party contested the 2021 legislative elections as part of the Trikolora Svobodní Soukromníci electoral alliance.

History

Klaus Jr. said that he began considering the founding of a new party when he was expelled from the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in March 2018. [16] In April 2019 he announced that he would present the name and ideology of the party in June 2019 after the European Parliament elections. His father Václav Klaus, former Czech Prime Minister and President, was said to be a member. [17] On 28 April 2019, Klaus Jr. called on his supporters on Facebook to help him choose the name of the party, pledging that he would buy a bottle for the winner. Many suggestions were satirical, such as Klaus Klaus Klan (a reference to the Ku Klux Klan), Party of Free Common Sense (Strana Svobodného Selského Rozumu – SSSR, a reference to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) or Klaustrophobia. Serious suggestions included the Patriotic Coalition (whose Czech name "Vlastenecká koalice" would share Klaus's initials) or Nation Together. [18] In early June 2019 Klaus Jr. registered the name Tricolour Citizens' Movement. [19]

The party was presented at a press conference on 10 June 2019, with Klaus Jr. saying that Tricolour would "defend Conservative ideas of a normal world". The party had two MPs at that time, Klaus Jr. and Zuzana Zahradníková Majerová, who were both elected as candidates of ODS. Among the members of the new party were cardiac surgeon Jan Pirk, doctor and former MP Boris Šťastný, economist Markéta Šichtařová, former vice rector of the University of West Bohemia Ivo Budil and Jan Teplý Sr. [20] Klaus Jr. commented that there were approximately another 10 MPs who were considering joining Tricolour. [21] The press conference was attended by Civic Democratic Party senator Jaroslav Zeman, leading to speculation that he may also join Tricolour. [22]

The party held its founding assembly on 28 September 2019. [23] Klaus Jr. was elected new leader of Tricolour. He stated that the party would "fight its Marxist and Maoist enemies", and expressed the view that Tricolour was a party for young people, as "Conservatism is Punk for today." Tricolour was endorsed by some foreign politicians such as Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party (UK), Petr Bystron of Alternative for Germany, and Viktor Orbán of Fidesz (Hungary). [24] [25] [26] Some Czech media outlets have compared Klaus and Tricolour to Dutch politician Thierry Baudet and his Forum for Democracy party. [27] The party had registered 10,000 supporters at the time, who are intended to be converted into members of Tricolour. [28] The party got its third MP in July 2020 when Tereza Hyťhová (elected for Freedom and Direct Democracy) joined Tricolour. [29]

In March 2021, Klaus Jr. resigned as leader of the party for personal reasons. [30] Zuzana Majerová Zahradníková became acting leader of the party. [31] The party participated in the 2021 legislative election in an alliance with Svobodní and the Freeholder Party of the Czech Republic, known as Trikolora Svobodní Soukromníci, but failed to meet the 5% voting threshold. [32] Soukromníci announced on 7 April 2022 that the party was ending its cooperation with Tricolour. Zahradníková and Svobodní leader Libor Vondráček confirmed that the Trikolora Svobodní Soukromníci alliance was no longer in operation. [33]

In June 2023, the party agreed to a cooperation agreement with Freedom and Direct Democracy for the 2024 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic, as well as 2024 regional and Czech Senate elections. [34]

Ideology

The program of the party is based on three main "pillars": [35]

The party has since published further policies, under the slogan Let's give the people back their country. The policies include improving the Czech education system, simplifying the tax code, assistance for young people and the elderly, support for the Czech military and police forces, prioritising Czech law over European law, and opposing "mass and uncontrolled immigration". The party supports Czech membership of NATO, but wants to reduce the power of the European Union, and supports a Europe "based on cooperation between free, independent nation states as opposed to a power centralized around Brussels", stating that the Czech parliament must not be "just a subordinate body approving laws written elsewhere". [36]

Organisation

Membership

As of 28 September 2019, the party had 240 members and 10,000 registered supporters. [37]

Leaders

No.NamePhotoSinceUntil
1 Václav Klaus Jr.
Konference - Media a moc - 2.3.2017 - Vaclav Klaus ml.png
25 June 201923 March 2021
2 Zuzana Majerová Zahradníková 23 March 2021Incumbent

Election results

Chamber of Deputies

YearLeaderVoteVote %SeatsPlace
2021 Zuzana Majerová Zahradníková 148,4572.76%
0 / 200
8th
Part of Tricolour–Svobodní–Soukromníci coalition, which won no seats

European Parliament

ElectionList leaderVotes %Seats+/−EP Group
2024 [lower-alpha 1] Petr Mach 170,1725.73 (#7)
0 / 21
New−
  1. ↑ Run in a joint list with SPD.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)</span> Czech political party

The Civic Democratic Party is a conservative and Eurosceptic political party in the Czech Republic. The party sits centre-right on the political spectrum, and 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 maintained an uninterrupted representation in the Chamber of Deputies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petr Mach</span> Czech economist

Petr Mach is a Czech economist and former Member of the European Parliament. He is the founder of the Party of Free Citizens which he led until 2017 when he was replaced by Tomáš Pajonk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Czech parliamentary election</span>

Early parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on 25 and 26 October 2013, seven months before the constitutional expiry of the elected parliament's four-year legislative term.

Freeholder Party of the Czech Republic is a centre-right conservative political party in the Czech Republic. The party considers itself to be a successor to Czechoslovak Traders' Party. The party had one Senator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Czech parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary 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 parliamentary elections, the country had 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Civic Democratic Party leadership election</span>

The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) leadership election of 2008 was a part of party's congress. It happened after ODS lost Senate election and regional elections. Incumbent leader and Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek faced Mayor of Prague Pavel Bém who was supported by President Václav Klaus.

Opinion polling for the 2021 Czech parliamentary election started immediately after the 2017 parliamentary election. Monthly party ratings are conducted by Sanep, TNS Kantar, STEM and CVVM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Václav Klaus Jr.</span> Czech teacher and politician

Václav Klaus Jr. is a Czech teacher and politician. He was a member of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) until his expulsion in March 2019. Klaus was a Member of the Chamber of Deputies (MP) from 2017 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Civil Liberties (think tank)</span> Czech think tank

The Center for Civil Liberties is a Czech think tank founded by Václav Klaus Jr. in January 2017, focusing on civil liberties, economic issues, and education. Klaus said that his aim is for the institute to compete with the Václav Havel Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klausism</span> Political positions of Václav Klaus

In Czech politics, Klausism refers to the political positions of Václav Klaus, former prime minister and president of the Czech Republic. It was first used by Mirek Topolánek, who designated Klausism as the ideology of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). This term was also used by former Prague mayor Jan Kasl. Klaus himself does not take issue with the term. The current usage of the term "Klausism" has become distanced from Klaus himself, leading to the phrase "Klausism without Klaus". The term "Klausism" is also frequently used as a label for the neologisms invented by Klaus. Klaus himself used the term "Mental Scheme of ODS", which he allegedly invented by chance. This term was also used by Jan Kasl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Civic Democratic Party leadership election</span> Czech political party leadership election

A Civic Democratic Party (ODS) leadership election was held on 13 January 2018. The incumbent leader Petr Fiala sought reelection. Shadow Minister of Education Václav Klaus Jr. was widely expected to run against Fiala. He was considered to be one of the most visible politician of the party. In December 2016, Czech bookmaker company Fortuna wrote a course for Klaus Jr. to replace Fiala on 20:1. Klaus Jr.. decided to not run against Fiala. Approximately 540 delegates were allowed to vote. Fiala received 451 votes and was elected for another term.

This is a list of notable individuals and organizations who voiced their endorsement for the office of the Czech president, including those who subsequently retracted or withheld their endorsement, of any candidate during 2018 Czech presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Czech presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in the Czech Republic in January 2023, resulting in the election of Petr Pavel. Incumbent president Miloš Zeman was not eligible to run due to the two-term limit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Czech Senate election</span>

Senate elections were held in the Czech Republic on 5 and 6 October 2018 alongside municipal elections, with a second round held on 12 and 13 October 2018. The Conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS) won the election with 10 seats. Governing parties ANO 2011 and the Czech Social Democratic Party were heavily defeated, winning only 1 seat each. The Communist Party lost its last seat in the Senate when Václav Homolka failed to be re-elected, meaning the party would be without representation in the Senate for the first time in the history of Czech Republic. The election was considered the first major win for the opposition to Andrej Babiš' Cabinet. Commentators including Josef Kopecký also noted ODS confirmed their position as the main opposition party, ahead of the Czech Pirate Party.

The 2019 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic was held on 24 and 25 May 2019, electing the 21 members of the Czech delegation to the European Parliament as part of the European elections held across the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Tricolour Citizens' Movement leadership election</span>

A leadership election for the Tricolour Citizens' Movement was held on 28 September 2019. Václav Klaus Jr. the founder of the party was the only candidate. Election is held as party of party's founding assembly. Klaus received 185 votes of 188 and was elected the leader of Tricolour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Czech regional elections</span>

Elections to regional councils in the Czech Republic in 13 regions were held on 2–3 October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Tricolour Citizens' Movement leadership election</span>

A leadership election for the Tricolour Citizens' Movement was held on 29 January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jiří Payne</span>

Jiří Tomáš Payne is a Czech politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

References

  1. ↑ Fendrych, Martin (2019). "Klaus s otcem staví hnutí Trikolóra. Okamura, Sládek a Filip by se měli bát". Aktuálně.cz.
  2. ↑ "Která sněmovní strana má nejvíce členů?". cnn.iprima.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Jsme národní konzervativci. Nepřijmeme z ciziny ani korunu". Lidovky.cz. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  4. ↑ Klaus Jr., Vaclav (9 May 2019). "KOMENTÁŘ: Parodie na volby, parodie na demokracii, parodie na soud – Václav Klaus ml". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ Klaus Jr., Vaclav (11 July 2018). "Stenoprotokol 17. schůze, 11. července 2018". Parlament České republiky, Poslanecká sněmovna (in Czech). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ Klaus Jr., Vaclav (28 August 2018). "KOMENTÁŘ: V Evropě nebude mlíko - Václav Klaus ml". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  7. ↑ Moláček, Jan (January 5, 2021). "Referendum o EU povinně při každých sněmovních volbách. Trikolóra trumfuje SPD". denikn.cz.
  8. ↑ "S mými názory se shoduje tak z 95 procent. Ultrapravicový politik Vandas pochválil Klausovo hnutí Trikolóra". Lidovky.cz . 13 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "How the Czech right is fighting back against 'cancel culture'". euronews.com. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Nové Klausovo hnutí si zaregistrovalo název Trikolóra". Novinky.cz . 4 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "Klaus mladší, kterého vyloučili z ODS, představuje svůj projekt Trikolóra". iDnes . 10 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "Exprezident Klaus po vyhazovu syna tvrdě zaryl do Fialy a ODS: Vyloučili ho ze strachu". Blesk . 17 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "prof. Ing. Václav Klaus, CSc". Institut Václava Klause.
  14. ↑ "Pětadvacet let ODS a této země". Týden . 24 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Přišel čas vzít si naši zemi zpátky, řekl Klaus. Představil hnutí Trikolóra". iDnes . 10 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Přirovnání bylo asi přepjaté, uznal Klaus. Zvažuje založení nové strany". iDNES.cz. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Klaus mladší představí po volbách svou stranu, členem bude i exprezident". iDNES.cz. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Klaus mladší hledá název nové strany. Padají i návrhy jako SSSR, KSČ a KKK". iDNES.cz. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "Centrum spjaté s Klausem ml. si zaregistrovalo značku Trikolóra hnutí občanů". iDNES.cz. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "Přišel čas vzít si naši zemi zpátky, řekl Klaus. Představil hnutí Trikolóra". iDNES.cz. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  21. ↑ "Šanci vidí Klaus u více než deseti nespokojených poslanců napříč stranami". iDNES.cz. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "Senátor Zeman podpořil Trikoloru. Máme podobný postoj k migrantům, říká". iDNES.cz. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "Klausovo hnutí Trikolóra má ustavující sněm. Předcházel mu průvod mažoretek". iDNES.cz. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  24. ↑ "Klaus vede Trikolóru a chce se utkat s neomarxistickými protivníky". iDNES.cz. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  25. ↑ "Klaus ml. stanul v čele Trikolóry a vymezil se na všechny strany". novinky.cz. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  26. ↑ "Trikolóra zahájila sněm mažoretkami, Klaus nemá vyzyvatele". novinky.cz. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Volby 2021 | Václav Klaus mladší může ovládnout prostor rázné intelektuální pravice". Reflex.cz.
  28. ↑ "Předsedou Trikolóry byl v Brně zvolen Václav Klaus mladší". Reflex.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  29. ↑ "Hyťhová opouští poslanecký klub SPD, bude spolupracovat s Trikolórou". iDNES.cz. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  30. ↑ "Václav Klaus ml. končí v politice". novinky.cz. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "Trikolóru povede Majerová Zahradníková, Klaus ml. rezignoval". novinky.cz. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "Volby do Poslanecké sněmovny 2021". seznamzpravy.cz. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  33. ↑ "Soukromníci končí spolupráci s Trikolorou. Nerozumí si i kvůli obhajování Rusů". novinky.cz. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  34. ↑ https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czech-far-right-parties-to-join-forces-ahead-of-eu-elections/
  35. ↑ "Klaus ml. představil nové hnutí Trikolóra. Vezmeme si naši zemi zpátky, řekl". Aktuálně.cz. June 10, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Trikolóra Hnutí Obcanu" . Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  37. ↑ "Pečinka: Trikolóra jako Babišův satelit?". Info.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
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.