In a bid to consolidate conservative and patriotic voters, far-right parties Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and Trikolora have signed a memorandum declaring their intention to form a coalition or establish other forms of cooperative entities ahead of the 2024 European elections. The goal of this alliance is to prevent a repeat of the fragmented right-wing representation seen in the 2021 Czech parliamentary elections, where smaller right-wing entities ran separately and split the conservative vote, resulting in only SPD crossing the 5% threshold to enter parliament.

The signing of the memorandum last week solidifies the parties’ commitment to unite against the governing coalition in the upcoming elections. SPD leader Tomio Okamura emphasized the need for this alliance as a means of consolidating patriotic and conservative forces within the Czech political landscape.

The fragmentation of the Czech political spectrum during the 2021 elections resulted in over a million lost votes, with approximately 250,000 of those supporting right-wing radical parties such as Trikolora, which at the time opposed COVID-19 measures and espoused pro-Russian narratives. Trikolora’s leader, Zuzana Majerová Zahradníková, highlighted the importance of preventing such lost votes in the future.

Currently, Freedom and Direct Democracy enjoys the support of around 10% of Czech voters, making it the country’s fourth strongest political party. Trikolora, founded by former members of the governing Civic Democratic Party, holds around 2% support. Both parties share strong Eurosceptic positions, with Trikolora advocating for mandatory referendums on EU membership to be held with every parliamentary election and Freedom and Direct Democracy openly calling for a referendum on leaving the EU.

The upcoming 2024 European elections, scheduled for June in the Czech Republic, present an opportunity for these far-right parties to rally their respective bases and attract conservative and patriotic voters. By joining forces, they aim to increase their chances of achieving electoral success and amplifying their anti-EU and nationalist rhetoric.

As the political landscape takes shape in the Czech Republic, the emergence of this alliance raises concerns about the potential impact of far-right ideologies on national and European politics. The 2024 elections will serve as a litmus test for the strength and influence of these parties and their ability to shape the political discourse in the Czech Republic and beyond.

Article by Prague Forum