The European Union elects a new parliament on May 26. We talked with European journalists and NGOs from different European countries to get a picture of the European right wing. We asked them how their local right wing parties want to change the European Union and which marginalized group is hated the most.
Our questions were answered by Prague Journalist Markus Pape.
Published on April 24, 2019
What right-wing parties are active in your country/participating in the European elections?
Right-wing populist in the Czech Republic are numerous parties, a lot of them are even in parliament. The currently strongest parties in this area are the parliamentary party Svoboda a přímá demokracie (SPD, freedom and direct democracy) of the political entrepreneur Tomio Okamura, currently with 19 deputies in the Czech lower house, and in some respects the parliamentary party Občanská demokratická strana (ODS, Civic Democratic Party) of political science professor Petr Fiala with 24 deputies in the lower house, and in certain respects also the Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy (KSČ, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia) with currently 15 deputies. To a certain extent, the two governing parties Česká strana sociálně demokratická (ČSSD, Czech Social Democratic Party) with 15 members and the Akce nespokojených občanů (ANO, action of dissatisfied citizens) with currently 78 deputies are also included in this area. There are also the Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová (KDU-ČSL, Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People’s Party) with 10 deputies, Tradice, odpovědnost, prosperita 09 (TOP O9, tradition, responsibility and prosperity 09) with seven deputies and Starostové a nezávislí (STAN, mayor and independent) with six deputies. Even the Czech pirates, currently with 22 MPs, are not doing well as they are not actively opposing right-wing populism and anti-refugee policies. Many other extra-parliamentary parties have committed themselves to right-wing populism.
The extreme right-wing extremists in the Czech Republic are primarily the extra-parliamentary parties Dělnická strana pro sociální spravedlnost (DSSS) – followup oft the DS (Workers‘ Party), banned in 2010. Then there is Adam Bartoš’s Národní demokracie (ND, National Democracy), and smaller factions such as the První Republika (PR, First Republic).
What are they campaigning for/what is their political agenda?
SPD: Refusal to accept refugees, rejection of Islam, direct democracy, rejection of the EU, condemnation and exclusion of certain minorities who are suspected of „unwilling to adapt“.
ODS: Sharp criticism of the EU, refusal to accept refugees.
KSC: Refusal to accept refugees.
CSSD: Refusal to accept refugees.
ANO: Refusal to accept refugees.
DSSS: Refusal to accept refugees, rejection of Islam, rejection of the EU.
ND: Refusal to accept refugees, rejection of Islam, rejection of the EU, participation in the EU elections for financial reasons only.
PR: Refusal to accept refugees, rejection of Islam.
What is their main topic for the European elections?
Still unclear, since the election campaign has not yet begun.
How do they propose to change the EU?
SPD: Prohibition of Islam, no admission of refugees, hermetic security of the EU’s external borders.
ODS: No reception of refugees, safeguarding of EU external borders.
KSC: No reception of refugees, securing of EU external borders.
CSSD: No reception of refugees, safeguarding of EU external borders.
ANO: No reception of refugees, securing of EU external borders.
DSSS: Prohibition of Islam, no reception of refugees, hermetic security of the EU’s external borders and the Czech border.
ND: Prohibition of Islam, No reception of refugees, Hermetic security of the EU’s external borders and the Czech border.
PR: Prohibition of Islam, No reception of refugees, Hermetic security of the EU’s external borders and the Czech border.
How good do you think their chances are in the elections?
In percent:
SPD: 6
ODS: 10
KSC: 5
CSSD: 6
ANO: 30
DSSS: 0.2
ND: 0.1
PR: 0.1
Text in German:
All english texts on European Election 2019:
