Commentary: Czech PM's hypocrisy and activists' unnecessary helpfulness

Is Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka a courageous, sharp politician unafraid of going against the "voice of the people"? Well-known activist Jan Piňos thinks so.

Speaking after Sobotka met with volunteers aiding refugees yesterday, Piňos said:  "We are highly grateful to the Prime Minister for finding the civic and political courage to accept our invitation today in a situation where there is such an anti-refugee atmosphere and when the President is giving an address together with those on the other side of this issue, speaking with the supporters of Konvička at Albertov. It certainly was not all that easy to come speak with those of us who are actively aiding refugees."

The PM said the following in connection with the "migration crisis" and the recent terrorist attacks:  "Even though the recent terrorist attacks in Paris have taken place during this time of migration crisis, it is necessary to realize that it was well-organized Islamist radicals who committed those murders. Our anger must be turned against them, not against the refugees who have frequently been expelled from their homes precisely by the ethnic and religious violence being spread by these very same murderous fanatics."

Yes, it is possible that Sobotka will announce a change to his policy regarding refugee reception. If that is the case, then I will sincerely appreciate it and I will assign Sobotka’s position on this issue the same value that Piňos does.

My concern, however, is that this is not the case. The PM’s words, in my estimation, are probably just an empty gesture of hypocrisy.

The Czech Republic, ever since the beginning of the "migration crisis", has been absolutely and clearly against receiving refugees. It voted against the EU quotas for refugee redistribution and has indicated that it cannot afford to receive more than a few hundred asylum-seekers, and even then if possible they should be Christians, who are ostensibly culturally allied with us – and the country has repeatedly earned sharp criticism from its partners in the EU for not demonstrating solidarity, for not honoring European values, and for violating the rights of refugees in absurd detention facilities like the one at Bělá-Jezová.

All this time Sobotka has been PM, and his closest ally in the cabinet is Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, who probably shares the opinions of Czech President Zeman more that he does those expressed in even the most poetic rhetoric in defense of migrants. No, nothing indicates that Sobotka’s main ally in the cabinet, instead of Chovanec, will now become Czech Human Rights Minister Jiří Dienstbier, who is one of only a few Czech politicians to actually openly express an opinion supporting the rights of refugees.

Nothing yet indicates that the Czech Republic will change political course and that Sobotka will actually stand up to the "voice of the people", approximately 80 % of whom, according to sociological surveys, reject refugee reception. There is no reason, therefore, to praise the PM for making an empty gesture.

I don’t understand why veteran activists do so when they have many years of experience with the fact that praising politicians doesn’t lead anywhere. It remains to be seen whether Sobotka’s words will be of any actual political weight.

For the time being it seems instead that he is raising his finger in censure and moralizing, piling on the poetic words and – speaking from within a well-fortified Czech Republic – hypocritically sending a message to Germany or Sweden that people there should not turn against refugees.