Law, Respect, Expertise

Law, Respect, Expertise
Právo Respekt Odbornost
AbbreviationPRO 2022
LeaderJindřich Rajchl
FoundedJune 2022
Split fromTricolour Citizens' Movement
Membership (2023)257 [1]
IdeologyNational conservatism
Right-wing populism
Political positionRight-wing
Website
stranapro.cz

Law, Respect, Expertise (Czech: Právo Respekt Odbornost, PRO 2022[2]) is a right-wing populist political party in the Czech Republic.

History

The party was founded in June 2022 by figures linked to Charter 2022, an initiative opposing COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations.[3] Lawyer Jindřich Rajchl, a former member of the Tricolour Citizens' Movement, became its first leader.[3] The party largely focused on energy policy during the press conferences held to launch the party.[4] In July 2022, the party announced it would nominate seven candidates for the 2022 Czech Senate election, including Hana Zelená and Ivan Noveský.[5]

The party gained some media attention during August 2022 when Rajchl appeared in a Sanep poll for preferred Prime Minister, finishing fourth with 7.9%.[6] On 3 September 2022, Rajchl and other prominent members of the party appeared at an anti-government demonstration on Wenceslas Square.[7][8]

PRO participated in the 2022 Czech Senate election with seven candidates.[9] Jana Zwyrtek Hamplová [cs], who was endorsed by PRO, advanced to the second round and eventually won the seat.[10][11]

After underwhelming results for both parties in the 2024 European Parliament election, PRO and Freedom and Direct Democracy formed an electoral alliance with Tricolour for the 2024 Czech regional elections.[12]

Positions

The party has been labelled as pro-Russian, due to several PRO candidates calling for an end to sanctions on Russia, and Czech support for Ukraine.[13] However, in April 2023, party vice-chair Petr Vack rejected this label, saying PRO considered Russia's actions against Ukraine to be "aggression" and "the conflict should end under the conditions of full respect for Ukraine's territorial sovereignty".[1]

According to Rajchl, the party is inspired by the politics of Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, stands against "the Green and Rainbow Inquisition", and represents national conservatism.[14]

Election results

European Parliament

Election List leader Votes % Seats +/− EP Group
2024 Jindřich Rajchl 63,959 2.15 (#8)
0 / 21
 New −

References

  1. ^ a b "Podejte demisi, vyzval vládu Rajchl. Lidé demonstrovali před jejím sídlem" [Rajchl called on the government to resign. People demonstrated in front of the government's seat]. Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). 16 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Rejstřík politických stran a hnutí - Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky". aplikace.mvcr.cz (in Czech).
  3. ^ a b "Nová strana PRO, v čele s Rajchlem, má ambice zlevnit energie a obnovit důvěru v právo". parlamentnilisty.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Česko má novou stranu. Předseda přišel z Trikolóry, nelíbí se jí covidová opatření". Echo24.cz (in Czech). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Strana PRO vyšle do senátních voleb sedm kandidátů". České Noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Předseda strany Právo Respekt Odbornost Jindřich Rajchl zabodoval v aktuálním průzkumu společnosti SANEP. Mezi kandidáty na premiéra obsadil 4. místo". Metro.cz (in Czech). 3 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Na tříhodinový protest proti vládě přišlo v Praze asi 70.000 lidí". České Noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Demonstrace 3. září bude předvolebním shromážděním PRO, Trikolóry a SPD". Manipulátoři.cz (in Czech). 30 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Strana PRO vyšle do senátních voleb sedm kandidátů". České Noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  10. ^ ""Okamurovu hnutí roste naprosto jasný konkurent," říká politolog". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). 27 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  11. ^ ""Výsledek proti všem, chtěli se proti nám spiknout." Zwyrtek Hamplová vyhrála v Kroměříži o 233 hlasů". Lidové noviny (in Czech). 2 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  12. ^ Dynter, Josef (11 July 2024). "Rajchl je posila, přináší protestní prvek, říká politolog na spojení s Okamurou". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Mafra.
  13. ^ "Poslední tažení Jaroslava Doubravy a proruská PRO". Manipulátoři.cz (in Czech). 20 August 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  14. ^ Leinert, Ondřej; Kadeřábková, Johana (7 February 2024). "Rajchl s Haškem by chtěli být čeští Orbán a Fico. Spoléhají i na Zemana". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
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