In his latest uncompromising weekly commentary, Czech political analyst Petr Holec sharply criticizes the transformation of President Petr Pavel into a dissident in the style of Václav Havel, the arrogance of members of parliament regarding salary increases, scandals involving the STAN party concerning public funds, the media's relentless pursuit of opposition figures, and the more general collapse of political accountability in the Czech Republic.
In his characteristic blunt and engaging style, which has made his Wednesday evening streams a must-watch for politically engaged Czechs and increasingly for international observers, commentator Petr Holec presented episode 285 with his trademark energy and sharp sarcasm. The broadcast, whose title refers to the mockery of ordinary people by long-time MP Marek Benda and the latest "acting performance" by President Petr Pavel at a Havel festival, delves beneath the polished surface of Czech politics and reveals what Petr Holec sees as deep hypocrisy, historical revisionism, and a dangerous slide towards unaccountable power.
Petr Holec begins with a harsh assessment of President Petr Pavel. The former high-ranking military officer and former member of the secret services from the communist era, who critics claim collaborated with the Soviet occupation of his own country, has now been effectively inducted into the "hall of fame of dissidents and Charter 77 signatories." The reason? His participation in the TrutnOFF Open Air festival in Trutnov, a legendary event associated with the memory of Václav Havel, the iconic playwright and president, a symbol of the Velvet Revolution and anti-communist resistance.
"So now it's official: President Petr Pavel, a former officer of a totalitarian secret service who collaborated with the Soviet occupation of his own country and was a devoted communist, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Dissidents and Charter 77 Signatories because he attended a festival in Trutnov and it turned out that he was Václav Havel," states Petr Holec with great irony. "Let's just say he was working undercover – we just didn't know about it until now." The public's reverence and the media's approach have erased all previous barriers, according to Petr Holec. "After what we experienced in Trutnov with Agent Pavek, i.e., President Pavel, anything is possible, and basically all barriers, boundaries, and obstacles have fallen... Petr Pavel goes there and is revered as Václav Havel. Pepa can do anything. Everything will go through. That's the reality in the Czech Republic."
This reinterpretation of his image is no small matter. Václav Havel embodied moral resistance to totalitarianism. Petr Holec argues that elevating a personality with Pavel's documented past to such a pedestal signals that historical truth and consistency are no longer important, if the narrative and the media are controlled by the "right" people. He ponders aloud whether Petr Pavel will deliver a speech on the anniversary of the 1968 Soviet occupation – an event that critics say he once praised – now that he wears the crown of a dissident. The president has become a "monster that keeps rolling and rolling," breaking one boundary after another, with strong support from mainstream media, whose ownership ties sometimes overlap with political interests.
Petr Holec does not spare even the parliamentary class. Regarding the salaries of members of parliament and politicians, he focuses on the veteran of ODS (Civic Democratic Party), Member of Parliament Marek Benda. "Please don't envy members of parliament, but especially Marek Benda personally, his money – excuse me, our money – because anyone who thinks that members of parliament and politicians in general should not receive a raise is a jealous idiot." This remark drips with sarcasm aimed at the disconnect between those in power and those they govern. As elections approach, Petr Holec warns against the "beautiful democratic atmosphere" created under the government of Petr Fiala, where "incorrect" voting carries the risk of a sharp backlash and media campaigns.
The main target is the party STAN (Mayors and Independents) and the misuse of public funds. Petr Holec describes in detail the scandals surrounding Prague Development and the still-unbuilt Vltava Philharmonic Hall. He describes attempts to divert tens or hundreds of millions of crowns – first 100 million for PR for a non-existent building using the classic model of awarding contracts to friendly companies (often lawyers), which then award the contracts to subcontractors and recycle the funds – and subsequent inflated contracts, whose volume grew dramatically before partial reductions and penalties occurred. "They like to give 100 million to lawyers... who then pass it on to other companies as subcontractors, and part of it goes back into their pockets." The first deputy for territorial development, Petr Hlaváček, earned particular scorn as a smiling "cadre worker" who appears affable. Petr Holec shows a video highlighting perceived hypocrisy, such as when Petr Hlaváček advocates for fewer parking spaces in Prague while himself using privileged parking in Prague 1.
The commentary celebrates the courage to go against the grain and points out the movement "Riders for Themselves". Famous chef Zdeněk Pohlreich publicly admitted that he voted for them along with his wife, and condemned the so-called "media witch hunt" and "inquisition" against MP Filip Turk as unacceptable – according to Petr Holec it was precisely Petr Pavel who contributed to this, and this trend is ruthlessly continuing. "Filip Turek must not succeed." Petr Holec praises the billboards of the Riders movement and candidates such as Petr Macinka and Klara Sovova for their courage: "The courage to go against the grain is a common Czech idiom… We all know what it means if no one washes our brains." He claims that Prague desperately needs after previous unsuccessful attempts, and promises another commentary on this.
As for the presidency itself, Petr Holec formulates a clear thesis rooted in the constitutional order. An ideal president should represent the pinnacle of a well-known political career, such as Václav Klaus, whose views and past activities were transparent. "I do not want a president I do not know politically… I am not a supporter of actors, athletes, entertainers, and so on, and certainly not former totalitarian secret agents and communists." He hinted at the possibility of abolishing direct elections in favor of parliamentary selection – or even abolishing this office altogether – because it has acquired "monstrous" features that disrupt the separation of powers.
Other topics include Cuts by Babiš's government to uneconomical "Eurocentres" ((propaganda organizations funded by Czech taxpayers through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)), the upcoming decision on a large tender for the D35 highway (where the lowest bid from a foreign, Polish consortium threatens an outflow of profits, taxes and economic benefits abroad instead of keeping them in the country) and vitalizing soft censorship mechanisms by Petr Fiala's government under new names – communication cards from personalities such as Otakar Foltýn, which shape media narratives in the name of "defending democracy." "All suppression of democracy was for the sake of democracy," notes Petr Holec with bitter irony. "You see it when you don't let anyone wash your brain."
Petr Holec's energy is infectious throughout. He blends historical references, current scandals, interactions from chats, and direct outrage. The main thesis is clear: Czech democracy is being hollowed out by elites who rewrite history, control the media, enrich themselves at the expense of public funds, and silence inconvenient opposition. Ordinary citizens are considered envious fools for questioning privileges, while former collaborators become moral icons overnight. Boundaries have collapsed; for those with connections, accountability is optional.
gnews.cz – GH
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