| Czech Republic on the 1st place! | |
| Native Name: | Česká republika na 1. místě! |
| Colorcode: | grey |
| Leader: | Ladislav Vrabel |
| Ideology: | Vaccine hesitancy Right-wing populism Russophilia |
| Website: | https://cr1.cz |
| Abbreviation: | ČR1 |
| Native Name Lang: | cs |
Czech Republic in First Place! is a Czech populist political party founded by Ladislav Vrabel.
Vrabel began his political career in 2021, running on the anti-vaccination "Open Czechia to Normal Life" list in the 2021 Czech parliamentary election.[1]
After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vrabel organized a series of protests against the Fiala Cabinet, and wrote a manifesto entitled "Plan Czech Republic in First Place". He also called on Czech President Miloš Zeman to dismiss Fiala's cabinet and name a government consisting of "experts" nominated by him.[2]
In early October 2022, 70,000 people attended a demonstration led by Vrabel on Prague's Wenceslas Square, and similar number attended a further two demonstrations held later in the same month. At each protest, Vrabel called for the resignation of Petr Fiala and early elections. He was joined by the leaders of several extra-parliamentary parties, including the Communist Party (KSČM), Svobodní, Tricolour, Swiss Democracy, Free Bloc and SD-SN.[3] [4] [5] The demonstrations were labelled by some, including Fiala, as pro-Russian, and organised by "pro-Russian forces" acting against the interests of the Czech Republic.[6]
Around the same time, information began to be reported about Vrabel's financial irregularities.[7] It later emerged that money which Vrabel had - illegally - gathered for the organisation of the protests was instead used to buy gold. In 2023, Vrabel was formally charged with subsidies fraud by the Czech police.[8] In late 2023, he founded Czech Republic in First Place!, seeking to run in the 2024 European elections.
Vrabel claims that the party's foremost priorities are "sovereignty and peace". He also said that his party wants to leave the European Union, even without holding a referendum on the decision. When a reporter presented him with a poll suggesting that 60% of Czechs would vote to remain in the EU, Vrabel said he still believed "that the majority of people want to leave". Vrabel also said that European integration does not promote peace in Europe, and that "France is already in near civil war".[9]
According to Vrabel, Identity and Democracy is the closest European Parliament grouping to his party, but he also stated that he would try to form a "pacifist" and eurosceptic group to improve relations with Russia, along with parties like Republic.[10]