Přísaha and Motorists

Czech populist electoral alliance

Přísaha and Motorists (Czech: Přísaha a Motoristé, lit. 'Oath and Motorists') is a Czech electoral alliance founded between Přísaha and Motorists for Themselves, a Prague local party, for the 2024 European Parliament election.

History

Přísaha and the Motorists started cooperating after the 2022 Czech municipal elections. In that election, Přísaha won 51 local councilors nationwide, below their expectations.[3][4] In Pohořelice, the hometown of the Přísaha's leader Robert Šlachta, the party won 41.28% of the vote and 9 out of 21 seats. However, every other party in Pohořelice formed a unity coalition against Přísaha.[5]

Motorists for Themselves had expressed the intention to become part of the Prague governing coalition,[6] but failed to overcome the 5% electoral threshold and did not gain any seats in the Prague City Council.[7]

In autumn 2023, the two parties announced their intention to co-operate in the upcoming 2024 Czech Senate election,[8] and the Motorists said they would support Šlachta's candidacy for a seat in the Senate.[9]

Around the same time, Přísaha announced its intention to run in the European election, with the leader of its South Bohemian chapter as its probable lead candidate.[10] Meanwhile, Motorists were in negotiations with Svobodní about a joint list for the elections.[11] However, in January 2024, the two parties signed a memorandum and announced a coalition for the European elections.[12][13] The alliance announced a planned election budget of around six million CZK.[14]

At the election, Přísaha and the Motorists won 10.26% of the vote and 2 out of 21 seats, severely beating expectations. Its electoral leader Filip Turek gained 152,196 preferential votes, second largest number in Czechia.[15][16]

According to experts, Turek gained voters from electorate of ANO and SPD, as well as from ranks of non-voters. The alliance was also more successful in smaller cities and had the youngest electorate overall.[17] Some of the experts however doubt that the alliance will be able to replicate its success in a parliamentary election.[18]

Neo-nazism allegations

Shortly before the 2024 European parliament election, several sources published photos of the election leader Filip Turek performing the Nazi salute while driving, as well as an image of his old race helmet that featured the logo of the Greek far-right organisation Golden Dawn. It was also found that his Facebook activity included posts praising Hitler as "golden daddy" and stating that he always pumps 88 liters of petrol into his car because it's a "very round number". He also nicknamed his house the "Adlerhorst". Turek also said he is in possession of several items featuring the Nazi swastika and SS symbols.[19]

While Turek denied being a Neo-nazi, the Czech police open an investigation concerning his gestures. He also dropped off the rest of pre-electoral debates.[20][21][22]

After election, Turek again denied being a Neo-nazi, stated that his old controversial photos and social media posts were product of his sharp and brutal humour, mistakes of his youth.[23]

Member parties

Parties Main ideology Leader(s) EP list composition
Přísaha Populism Robert Šlachta
15 / 28
Motorists for Themselves Motorists' interests Petr Macinka
13 / 28

Electoral results

2024 European Parliament election

Year Leader Vote Vote % Seats Place
2024 Filip Turek 304,623 10.25
2 / 21
 3rd

2024 Senate election

Year Leader Vote Vote % Seats Place
2024 Robert Šlachta TBA TBA
0 / 27
 TBA

References

  1. ^ Tvrdoň, Jan. "Dojede Přísaha s Motoristy až do europarlamentu? Výzkumníci popisují, kde koalice bere voliče". Deník N (in Czech). Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  2. ^ Kabrhelová, Lenka. "Češi s Turkem a Němci zklamaní z „polistopadového" vývoje. Expert o eurovolbách". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech).
  3. ^ "Voliči vybrali nové zastupitele a zvolili tři senátory". Czech Statistical Office (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  4. ^ "Zastupitelé dle navrhující strany". volby.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  5. ^ "Šlachta ovládl volby v Pohořelicích. Přesto už vznikla koalice bez něj". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  6. ^ "Václav Klaus mi řekl, ať to nepokazím, říká zakladatel nové strany Motoristé sobě". Lidové noviny (in Czech). Mafra. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  7. ^ "Výsledky voleb". volby.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  8. ^ "Šlachtovu Přísahu podpoří Motoristé sobě". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  9. ^ "Šéf Motoristů Macinka podpoří Roberta Šlachtu v senátní kampani". Motoristé sobě (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  10. ^ Křovák, Jan (2023-11-01). "Eurovolby 2024: "Pětikoalici" se postaví Dostálová, David s Majerovou a SOCDEM s malými stranami". Echo24.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  11. ^ "Svobodní jednali o kandidátce do EP, jednají se stranou Motoristé sobě". Svobodní (in Czech). 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  12. ^ "Přísaha míří k evropským volbám s Motoristy, Šlachta má zálusk na křeslo v Senátu". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  13. ^ "Šlachta bude kandidovat do Senátu. S Motoristy Přísaha míří k evropským volbám". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  14. ^ Dyntr, Josef; Tykalová, Tereza (2024-04-11). "Přísaha s Motoristy před eurovolbami zavítá do měst. Slibují si zisk dvou křesel". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  15. ^ Cieslar, Jan (2024-06-09). "Czechia has chosen new Members of the European Parliament". Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  16. ^ Štěpánková, Lenka (2024-06-10). "Turek obral o hlasy hlavně Okamuru. Experti: Nespokojenost s vládou přihrála voliče protestním hnutím". Lidové noviny (in Czech). Mafra.
  17. ^ Grim, Jakub (2024-06-11). "Kde uspěli Turek a Konečná? ‚Noví populisté' mobilizovali v krajských zákoutích a u lidí se základním vzděláním". Czech Radio (in Czech).
  18. ^ Mach, Jiří (2024-06-11). "Motoristé úspěch těžko zopakují, míní sociolog". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis.
  19. ^ Dolejší, Václav (2024-06-06). "Glosa: Legrace s hranatým Turkem skončila. Definitivně". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  20. ^ Prchal, Lukáš; Tvrdoň, Jan. "Filip Turek jezdil v autě se zdviženou pravicí, lajkoval Hitlera. Řeší to policie". Deník N (in Czech). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Turek obdivoval Hitlera a hajloval z auta, snímky řeší policie. Lídr Přísahy a Motoristů teď ruší účast v předvolebních debatách". FORUM 24 (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  22. ^ "Nečekaný zvrat. Turek se před volbami již neukáže v debatách, chce mírnit vášně". CNN Prima News (in Czech). Prima F. T. V. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  23. ^ Kalčák, Filip (10 June 2024). "Koketování se svastikou je nepřijatelné, kritizoval Vondra. Nafackoval bych si, hájil se Turek". CNN Prima News (in Czech). Prima F. T. V. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the respective chambers.
Chamber of Deputies
2021 (200 seats)
Senate
2022 (81 seats)
European Parliament
2024 (21 seats)
Regional Assemblies
2020 (675 seats)
Other parties
Current electoral alliances
Sources
Chamber of Deputies
Senate
Statistical Office