David Beňák is running for the ANO movement in the EP elections, wants to aid the needy and reach out to Romani voters

Although the ANO movement has yet to officially present its candidate list, most of the names on it are already circulating in the Czech media. The list will be headed by the former Czech Minister for Regional Development, Klára Dostálová, second place will be held by Czech MP Jaroslav Bžoch, and third place will be held by their current Czech MEP Ondřej Knotek.

“I have always been a Social Democrat, but these days it’s the ANO movement that’s the only one bringing together voters who think like I do. Another reason [I’m running] is my conviction that it is exactly through the ANO movement that I can implement the steps which I believe will improve the situation of Czech Roma in various areas of their lives,” Beňák told news server Romea.cz.

Beňák’s main aim is to improve the employment and social situations not just of Romani people, but of all socially disadvantaged groups. “I want to aid the needy. In order to do that, what’s necessary is to target EU financial resources much better to support the socially weak. I want genuine equality on the labor market, above all for those with the lowest levels of education. That’s connected with support for the employment of citizens who are socially disadvantaged. Last but not least, my ambition is to initiate the inception of grants and programs to support small enterprises, focusing on communities of minorities,” he explained regarding the subjects he wants to work on should he be elected to the EP.

Although he is running in 17th place, Beňák is determined to gain the necessary preferential votes to be seated. “I don’t know how realistic it is that I might eventually ‘jump over’ the candidates higher up on the list, but I will decidedly try,” Beňák said, adding that he will need tens of thousands of preferential votes to do so.

News server Romea.cz estimates Beňák will need 25,0000 to 30,000 preferential votes to be seated. He is planning to run an in-person campaign concentrating on the Romani community.

“Nothing but an in-person campaign, in other words, a contact campaign, makes sense. Naturally, it will focus on Romani people. I’m seeking the Romani vote. However, it won’t be until election day that we see whether our community is able to do something in a political sense so that our ‘voice’, in the person of at least one Romani man, can be heard for Czechia at the European Parliament,” Beňák concluded.

Elections to the EP will be held in June. Voters will decide who will occupy its 720 seats, 15 more than in the parliamentary session now ending.

The rise in the number of seats is a response to demographic changes in the EU. The Czech Republic currently has 21 seats and that number will not change.

The top candidate on the list for SPOLU, which features three of the parties in the current coalition government, is Czech MEP Alexandr Vondra (Civic Democratic Party – ODS), while the Pirates’ candidate list will be led by Czech MEP Marcel Kolaja. The Mayors and Independents movement (STAN) will be led by former presidential candidate Danuše Nerudová, and the STAN candidate list in particular features another Romani man, Jaroslav Miko.

Miko is running in 10th place. The “Freedom and Direct Democracy” (SPD) list will be led by former Czech MEP Petr Mach, who previously led the Svobodní (Free Citizens) party.