Former Czech presidential candidate Danuse Nerudova has announced her intention to run for the European Parliament in the 2024 elections as part of the Mayors and Independents (STAN) party. She is among the candidates in contention to become the party’s lead candidate, alongside former MP Jan Farsky.

Vit Rakusan, the leader of STAN and Deputy Prime Minister, praised Nerudova’s potential candidacy, stating that she can help create a strong and confident European candidate list for the party.

Nerudova, who is 44 years old and previously served as the rector of Brno’s Mendel University, expressed her sense of responsibility toward those who voted for her in the presidential election, stating, “We must stand up against populism again and offer an alternative.” In the 2023 presidential election, Nerudova finished third in the first round and did not advance to the runoff.

Her potential nomination as the lead candidate, along with Jan Farsky, is subject to approval by the broader leadership of STAN, with a decision expected from the national committee later in the summer.

Nerudova garnered 13.9% of the vote in the presidential election, receiving support from over 777,000 voters. Although she did not progress to the runoff, she supported the eventual winner, Petr Pavel.

Nerudova emphasized the significance of her campaign, noting that her efforts prevented current opposition leader Andrej Babis from being elected president. However, she acknowledged that the rise of populism remains a challenge and expressed a determination to counter it.

STAN will be running independently in the European elections and plans to complete its candidate list with independent figures who share pro-European and liberal values. The party’s candidate list will be named “Mayors and Personalities for Europe.”

Nerudova’s potential candidacy brings attention to the evolving landscape of Czech politics as parties prepare for the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Article by Prague Forum