Czech Greens call for removal of candidate from the top slot on the Oath party's list for use of Nazi symbols
In the Czech Republic, the Greens have called on the chair of the Oath (Přísaha) party, Robert Šlachta, to remove Filip Turek, who is not a party member, from first place on their joint candidate list with the group called "Motorists Unite" (Motoristy sobě). They did so in response to a photograph showing the former racecar driver wearing a helmet with the insignia of the Greek neo-Fascist movement Golden Dawn.
In a press release on the issue, the Greens also referenced a photograph of Turek seated next to a candlestick featuring Nazi symbolism. In their call for Turek to be removed from the list, made on the X social media site, the Greens said it is absolutely unacceptable in a democratic country at a time of growing antisemitism in Europe for a candidate for high office to boast about his ownership of objects with Nazi symbolism or to express sympathy for a political party with a neo-Fascist and neo-Nazi ideology.
The Czech News Agency (ČTK) is seeking a statement from Šlachta on the issue. He told news server Respekt.cz that after meeting Turek they had a discussion about history.
“He said he collects such things and has an apartment full of them. That didn’t interest me much, though, there was never any indication that he might give the Nazi salute somewhere,” Šlachta told RESPEKT.
Šlachta also said he does not believe Turek lied to him about himself and explains his televised remarks on the issue as being due to his using a different style of communication than Šlachta himself uses. As for the chair of the “Motorists Unite” party, Petr Macinka, he told ČTK that this was a “convoluted effort by liberals on Twitter [sic]” to call the ancient Greek symbol used by Golden Dawn a Nazi symbol.
According to Macinka, the meander symbol is used in architecture, ceramics and fashion. “It’s also depicted in almost all the products of Versace, but nobody decries that brand. The hunt for Filip Turek’s head is taking on absurd dimensions. This is genuinely ridiculous,” he said.
The Greens say Turek published photographs of himself next to objects with Nazi symbols and that this is not about an isolated example, but about Turek’s preference for Nazi and neo-Nazi symbolism. “As you certainly know, members of the Greek neo-Nazi organization Golden Dawn were convicted of politically motivated violence, including murders. The leadership of the party was convicted in 2020 of having run a criminal organization,” the Greens say.
“This is absolutely normal, I also own a dagger with SS insignia, I got it from my father. I am not a member of the NSDAP or a radical right-winger. At home I have a lot of antiques, gifts from my friends, trophies. I’m not ashamed of that,” Turek said Monday during a debate on CNN Prima News.
The Greens say that as a democratic politician, Šlachta should distance himself from Turek and the party should remove him from the top slot on the joint candidate list.
