Derweil in Tschechien... 43/25
07.11.2025
Parliament Elects Right-Winger as President
The Czech parliament has elected Tomio Okamura as its president at its first session. The leader of the far-right party Svoboda a přímá Demokrace (Freedom and Direct Democracy) was elected with the votes of the future governing parties ANO and Autofahrer, as well as his own party. Okamura, who is of Japanese descent, regularly rails against foreigners, minorities, and political opponents. His choice of words is often racist and xenophobic, and he calls for the Czech Republic to leave the EU and NATO in the long term.
His election is the result of a deal between the future governing parties. Okamura deliberately did not want a ministerial post where he would have to assume responsibility, but was aiming for the prestigious position of Speaker of Parliament. Okamura had deliberately flouted parliamentary conventions in the past. His party had even lost significant support in the elections. However, since the government needs him, the deal was struck. In addition, both the likely future Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Okamura face the threat of legal proceedings. To ensure that their immunity as members of Parliament is not revoked, both are dependent on cooperation.
As one of his first official acts, Okamura had the Ukrainian flag removed from parliament. The Speaker of Parliament is nominally the third-highest office in the Czech state after the President of the Republic and the President of the Senate.
Czech Government Resigns
The government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala has submitted its resignation to President Petr Pavel and received its resignation papers. However, the ministers will remain in office on a temporary basis until the new government is formed. The future government, consisting of ANO, the Motorists’ Party, and the SPD, adopted its government program this week.
New memorial plaque for Karl May
The writer and creator of Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, Karl May, has been honored with a memorial plaque in Chomutov. The plaque was unveiled at the former Hotel Scherber on Chelčický Street. May was visiting friends here in 1897. He came from his hometown of Hohenstein-Ernstthal on the other side of the Ore Mountains. Karl May was—and still is—very popular in the Czech Republic. There has long been a May Street in Ústí nad Labem, near a hotel where he stayed for a while and found inspiration for his works near Schreckenstein.
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