PRAGUE - The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) launched its campaign for the senatorial and municipal elections on Friday. What are the key issues they are focusing on, and why should people vote? How does ODS plan to counter the policies of the Babiš government in the coming months, particularly in areas such as the defense of public service media? And what is ODS's position on the debate about adopting the euro? The FORUM 24 newspaper asked Martin Kupka, the chairman of ODS, about these and other issues.
ODS has launched its campaign for the senatorial and municipal elections. What are your main themes, and what are you focusing on? Why should people go to the polls?
In the case of the Senate, it is important to maintain its strength in the Czech Republic as a safeguard against attempts by the government to attack democratic institutions and independent media. This is absolutely clear. No one should have absolute power in the hands of a few. It is crucial that the Senate represents an important opposition force, a vital point of protection to prevent the current government from doing whatever it wants.
And we are seeing, and experiencing, that the rules are being relaxed, including budgetary rules, and a whole range of other things. For example, the relaxation of conflict of interest rules that the current Babiš government is planning. This must not happen in the Czech Republic.
I am convinced that the Senate fulfills this role and must continue to do so in the future. That is our commitment. We are defending five seats, and we are putting forward very important personalities. If I were to name them all, I would certainly forget someone, but in that group, there is certainly Senator Papoušek, Senator Goláň, for example, Mrs. Petrofová, Dagmar Pecková, and Radko Sáblík, the director of schools, Petr Paták, who is respected here in Prague.
And what about the municipal elections?
We have many successful mayors in various regions. I am convinced that we are entering the municipal elections very strong in this area. And when it comes to cities and municipalities, the specific issues will be put together mainly by local candidates.
However, it is clear that we must be a responsible political force in cities and municipalities, a clear counterweight to the current government. It must be clear that we will manage finances responsibly, invest wisely, and that our plans will always have a responsible impact within the framework of zoning plans.
This is an important aspect of municipal politics. It is measured not by the number of words and their size, but by what you build and what you do. For example, it is clear how quickly the area is developing under Tomáš Portlík in Prague 9. In fact, the most new apartments are being built in the entire Czech Republic. So, if someone is talking about solving the housing problem, they know how to do it because they have created conditions that make it easier to build. And that is our program for the municipal elections: practical, effective solutions and responsible management.
How would you assess your performance in the parliamentary opposition so far? And I will also ask about a current issue: how will you continue to defend institutions that are under threat, such as public service media?
One of the successes, without a doubt, was the joint stance and action against the attempt by the current governing coalition to promote Bradáč and Matocha as the coalition's favorites in the election to the Council of Czech Television. We prevented that.
```Today, they are not members of the Czech Television Council. And the way in which, together with the expert community and civil society, we clearly oppose the attempt to abolish broadcasting fees, to muzzle public service media, to simply tame them, will have its consequences. It is already clear that Babiš's government is entering this situation under much worse circumstances. Oto Klempíř is also making mistakes due to this pressure. He put forward a completely incompetent draft media law, and Andrej Babiš is fumbling around like a bull in a china shop.
Another major topic in which we are managing to unite forces with the expert community is the promotion of a fact-based and rational approach. We reject the idea that the state should turn its back on expert knowledge. This includes defending effective drug policies and protecting human rights. It is precisely in these specific areas that we are visible, and we will continue to be active in them.
Of course, there will be issues on which we can agree with this government on specific technical solutions. However, I consider the message with which we launched the campaign to be very important: the Czech Republic must have a strong democratic foundation in the Senate. The Senate, in particular, represents a safeguard that clearly defines the limits of the government's power.
We are observing how Andrej Babiš is trying to concentrate more and more power in the hands of a few, and it appears that he is using the state as a tool for his own political agenda and for his own companies. This is simply not right. And a strong Senate will prevent this.
Even though they now have the government and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, it is clear that the Senate must remain as a protection of democracy, as an important safeguard against anyone having unlimited power.
I know that you will be discussing the issue of the euro at the party's ideological conference, but I am interested in your opinion as a citizen and as the chairman of the ODS.
I will say openly that this topic needs to be debated in a factual and rational manner. Yes, we will open this topic. Some political parties lack the courage and often either quickly reject it or say that the euro must be a permanent thing, never to change. I believe that this issue deserves a rational discussion. And we need to debate the pros and cons. We have already said, as part of the SPOLU coalition, that the euro is yes, but only when it is advantageous for us. And I think it is important to define what that means.
(Author: Petr Nutil)