Czech presidential candidate Petr Pavel takes a stand against extremists from "Freedom and Direct Democracy" and the "Workers' Social Justice Party"
The "Freedom and Direct Democracy" (SPD) movement of Tomio Okamura, which is in the opposition, will not support presidential candidate Petr Pavel who, among other matters, has said he would never appoint members of that movement as Government ministers. Barbora Šťastná, SPD spokesperson, provided a statement to that effect to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
Tomáš Vandas, chair of the extremist “Workers’ Social Justice Party” (DSSS) has also sharply objected to Pavel and indirectly supported his opponent, Andrej Babiš, in the second round of the election. The SPD statement read: “The SPD movement will not support any candidate connected with the five-member coalition Government of Fiala in the second round of the presidential elections, in accordance with our longstanding political position; a person who is in favor of restricting freedom of speech and who would not appoint members of our movement to be Government ministers would restrict our advocacy of our political program.”
The SPD was referring to Pavel’s statement in an election debate on CNN Prima News in which he answered the question of whether, as president, he would ever appoint the chair of that movement, Tomio Okamura, to the post of Education Minister; Pavel said to do so would be a security risk and possibly even morally endanger youth. Vandas has also sharply objected to Pavel.
When news server Novinky.cz asked whether there was anybody in Czech public life with whom he would refuse to meet as president, Pavel said: “People such as Tomáš Vandas and Ladislav Vrabel, of whom I am convinced that they harm this country and are not open to constructive negotiation.” Vandas responded by saying: “Our country is not harmed by people who do proper work, pay tax and obey the law. Our country is most harmed by these turncoats, the bootlickers of Brussels, those who want the Czech Republic to dissolve in the European sea of multi-culti,” adding that he hopes Pavel loses the election.
Vandas had announced just before the first round of voting that he believes Babiš to be the “lesser evil” of the candidates. He and his DSSS have long attacked Romani people, labeling them “gypsies”.
During the most recent local elections, Vandas supporters printed fake election campaign fliers insulting Romani people. His party was also behind the attempted pogrom on the Romani residents of the Janov housing estate in Litvínov in 2008.
