Related articles

Current Affairs“Havel’s children” likely to shun lower house elections

If the imminent Czech lower house elections have failed to enthuse a large part of the population so far then that appears doubly true for many young people. Figures suggest they could stay away from the polls in droves. And part of the blame seems to lie with the political parties themselves.  More

NewsPre-election poll shows increased support for new parties

NewsPoll suggests Social Democrats as lower house election winner

Current AffairsPublic Affairs party comes under scrutiny for pre-election street patrols

The surprise political hit of the Czech general election campaign so far, the Public Affairs party, has come under the spotlight for another reason than its high poll ratings. Media attention has focussed on the party’s newly launched street patrols and its populist stance on law and order.  More

Current AffairsCzech lower house election campaign goes into final straight after slow, negative start

Czechs go to the polls in just under four weeks for elections to the lower house of parliament. As the deadline approaches, the two main parties have unveiled their final campaign plans. We assess the battle so far and the prospects ahead of the vote.  More

NewsSmall numbers of Czechs in Europe and North America register to vote in elections

Current AffairsHigh schools come under pressure from regional politicians to drop mock elections

Over the next three days, more than 140 high schools in the Czech Republic are taking part in a mock election, aimed at boosting interest among students on the cusp of voting age, in the political process although they haven’t earned the right to vote yet. Students between 15 to just under 18 are taking part, but paradoxically, some of the country’s politicians, primarily Social Democrats ahead of the real national election in May, have stepped up the pressure for schools to drop out. The reason? What they charge is a danger of politicisation of the classroom. But critics say, they are only really worried about the mock election results.  More

NewsParty platforms support direct presidential election

Current AffairsAnti-Left video causes stir ahead of election

A month before the national election, filmmaker Petr Zelenka together with the popular actors Martha Issová and Jiří Mádl, have caused an unprecedented stir with the release of a viral video called Přemluv bábu - Persuade Granny. The clip takes its cue from Sarah Silverman’s The Great Schlep in 2008, which humorously urged Jewish voters to get their grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. But some viewers here have taken offence to the Czech version, criticising it, if not for its message, for how the elderly are portrayed.  More

Letter from PragueVolcano, Elvis and other stories from the election campaign

Czechs have been living in the state of permanent political campaigning ever since the fall of the government last March. Early elections were supposed to be held in October, but in the end we have had wait for the regular term next month. All this time, political parties have been coming up with new ideas, slogans and counter-slogans to catch people’s attention.  More