Author: Bridge Initiative Team / Political Geography: Czech Republic

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 02-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Tomio Okamura is a far-right Czech politician who founded the anti-elitist and anti-Muslim party, Freedom and Direct Democracy (Svoboda a přímá demokracie, SPD). He has made comments that promote anti-Muslim tropes and demonize Muslims and actively advocates for the Czech Republic to exit from the European Union. Following the 2024 European Parliament elections, Okamura joined the right-wing group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, which includes several political parties that support discriminatory policies targeting Muslims.
Topic:: Discrimination, Islamophobia, Far Right, Political Parties, and Tomio Okamura
Political Geography:: Europe and Czech Republic

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 02-2021
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Miloš Zeman is the president of the Czech Republic and one of the most outspoken anti-Muslim politicians in the country. Previously, he served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002 and was a member of the Czech Social Democratic Party (Česká strana sociálně demokratická, ČSSD) until 2007. In October 2009, Zeman founded his own party, the Party of Civic Rights, Zemanovci (Strana Práv Občanů – Zemanovci, SPOZ), which supported the anti-Muslim party Freedom and Direct Democracy (Svoboda a přímá demokracie).
Topic:: Domestic Politics, Islamophobia, Political Parties, and Muslims
Political Geography:: Europe and Czech Republic

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 08-2020
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Freedom and Direct Democracy (Svoboda a přímá demokracie, or SPD) is a far-right political party in the Czech Republic that was established in 2015. Founded as an anti-elitist and anti-Muslim populist party, SPD cooperates with other far-right and anti-Muslim European political parties and is a member of the Identity and Democracy (I&D) group in the European Parliament.
Topic:: Populism, Far Right, Political Parties, European Parliament, Muslims, and Svoboda a Přímá Demokracie (SPD)
Political Geography:: Europe and Czech Republic

Author:: Bridge Initiative Team
Publication Date:: 10-2020
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: Andrej Babiš has served as prime minister of the Czech Republic since 2017 and is the founder and leader of the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens party (ANO 2011). Babis has furthered anti-refugee rhetoric and argued in favor of a “zero refugees” policy. Prior to entering politics, Babis founded multinational conglomerate Agrofert. Babiš has strong political and business links to notoriously anti-Muslim Czech President Miloš Zeman.
Topic:: Refugees, Islamophobia, Political Parties, and Andrej Babiš
Political Geography:: Europe and Czech Republic

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