Photo: top09.cz

TOP 09 has announced its first three candidates for this year's senatorial elections. The strong trio includes an experienced politician and two prominent figures in their respective fields, who have long been actively involved in public life. In addition to the current senator Herbert Pavera, the candidates vying for the votes of the electorate are documentary filmmaker Břetislav Rychlík and sports legend Dominik Hašek.

Dominik Hašek's hockey achievements are certainly impressive. However, what is even more important is Hašek's value system and, above all, his courage to advocate for it in public discourse. For example, today, he is fighting against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international tournaments, including this year's Olympics.

"When I was playing for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL, I couldn't have imagined that I would one day decide to run for the actual Senate. Today, my interest in social issues and politics is so strong that I see this candidacy as an inevitable step in my life," says Dominik Hašek, who will be running for the trust of the people in the Benešov electoral district.

"Dominik Hašek stands for clear positions that are in line with the values of TOP 09. He has also been actively involved in charitable work for a long time, which is something I appreciate, and it says a lot about his character," says TOP 09 chairwoman Markéta Pekarová Adamová. "To achieve such a significant place in sports history requires immense hard work and perseverance. That's why I believe that he will be just as valuable a member of the Senate as he was during his hockey career."

Herbert Pavera is defending his seat in the Opava district.

Our current senator for the Opava district, Herbert Pavera, wants to show Dominik Hašek how things work in the upper chamber of Parliament. He is also the chairman of the Moravian-Silesian regional organization of TOP 09, has been the chairman of the Association of Municipalities of Hlučín for 18 years, and has been the mayor of Bolatice for 26 years. Under his leadership, Bolatice not only managed to stop population decline but also repeatedly won the "Village of the Year" competition and became a model of a successfully developing modern municipality.

"I deeply appreciate the trust that the TOP 09 executive committee has placed in me for another electoral term. However, I value the trust of the voters even more. Six years ago, I received 15,900 votes, which showed me that I have that trust," says Herbert Pavera. "I would like to continue offering free legal assistance to people in solving their problems, continue to promote the construction of the Hlučín bypass, and continue to show that politics can be done honestly and with integrity, for our citizens."

Břetislav Rychlík is running in "his" Brno.

Also running for the Senate on the TOP 09 ticket is a scout and seeker of themes, people, and injustices. He is a successful film and theater director, but most people recognize him for his acting roles. Břetislav Rychlík"As a documentary filmmaker, I have strived to shed light on the experiences of people persecuted by past regimes, individuals on the margins of society, and to bring neglected social issues to the forefront. I am concerned by the divisions within Czech society and the reckless populism we are witnessing. I view politics as a service to citizens, a clash of values rooted in the traditions of democracy and humanism. In this sense, I believe that my involvement in politics would be a continuation of what I have been doing throughout my life. In November '89, we returned democratic values and principles to our country, and it is clearly time to help reinforce them again," says Břetislav Rychlík. MARKÉTA VOLFOVÁ, PRESS SPOKESPERSON FOR TOP 09 gnews.cz-JaV_07 [Link to: https://www.top09.cz/co-delame/tiskove-zpravy/dominik-hasek-jisti-prvoligovou-soupisku-top-09-do-senatu-31468.html]