Law, Respect, Expertise Explained

Country:the Czech Republic
Law, Respect, Expertise
Native Name:Právo Respekt Odbornost
Native Name Lang:cs
Leader:Jindřich Rajchl
Foundation:June 2022
Split:Tricolour Citizens' Movement
Membership Year:2023
Membership:257
Colorcode:
  1. 0B9DC2
Abbreviation:PRO 2022
Ideology:National conservatism
Right-wing populism
Position:Right-wing

Law, Respect, Expertise (Czech: Právo Respekt Odbornost, PRO 2022[1]) is a right-wing populist political party in the Czech Republic.

History

The party was founded in June 2022 by figures linked to Charter 2022, an initiative opposing COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations.[2] Lawyer Jindřich Rajchl, a former member of the Tricolour Citizens' Movement, became its first leader.[2] The party largely focused on energy policy during the press conferences held to launch the party.[3] In July 2022, the party announced it would nominate seven candidates for the 2022 Czech Senate election, including Hana Zelená and Ivan Noveský.[4]

The party gained some media attention during August 2022 when Rajchl appeared in a Sanep poll for preferred Prime Minister, finishing fourth with 7.9%.[5] On 3 September 2022, Rajchl and other prominent members of the party appeared at an anti-government demonstration on Wenceslas Square.[6] [7]

PRO participated in the 2022 Czech Senate election with seven candidates.[8], who was endorsed by PRO, advanced to the second round and eventually won the seat.[9] [10]

After underwhelming results for both parties in the 2024 European Parliament election, PRO and Freedom and Direct Democracy formed an electoral alliance with Tricolour for the 2024 Czech regional elections.[11]

Positions

The party has been labelled as pro-Russian, due to several PRO candidates calling for an end to sanctions on Russia, and Czech support for Ukraine.[12] However, in April 2023, party vice-chair Petr Vack rejected this label, saying PRO considered Russia's actions against Ukraine to be "aggression" and "the conflict should end under the conditions of full respect for Ukraine's territorial sovereignty".[13]

According to Rajchl, the party is inspired by the politics of Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, stands against "the Green and Rainbow Inquisition", and represents national conservatism.[14]

Election results

European Parliament

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rejstřík politických stran a hnutí - Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky. aplikace.mvcr.cz. cs.
  2. Web site: Nová strana PRO, v čele s Rajchlem, má ambice zlevnit energie a obnovit důvěru v právo. parlamentnilisty.cz. 5 September 2022. cs.
  3. Web site: Česko má novou stranu. Předseda přišel z Trikolóry, nelíbí se jí covidová opatření . Echo24.cz. 18 June 2022. 5 September 2022. cs.
  4. Web site: Strana PRO vyšle do senátních voleb sedm kandidátů. České Noviny. 5 September 2022. cs.
  5. Web site: Předseda strany Právo Respekt Odbornost Jindřich Rajchl zabodoval v aktuálním průzkumu společnosti SANEP. Mezi kandidáty na premiéra obsadil 4. místo. Metro.cz. 3 August 2022. 5 September 2022. cs.
  6. Web site: Na tříhodinový protest proti vládě přišlo v Praze asi 70.000 lidí . České Noviny. 5 September 2022. cs.
  7. Web site: Demonstrace 3. září bude předvolebním shromážděním PRO, Trikolóry a SPD . Manipulátoři.cz. 30 August 2022. 5 September 2022. cs.
  8. Web site: Strana PRO vyšle do senátních voleb sedm kandidátů . České Noviny. 29 September 2022. cs.
  9. Web site: "Okamurovu hnutí roste naprosto jasný konkurent," říká politolog . Seznam Zprávy. 27 September 2022. 29 September 2022. cs.
  10. Web site: "Výsledek proti všem, chtěli se proti nám spiknout." Zwyrtek Hamplová vyhrála v Kroměříži o 233 hlasů . Lidové noviny. 2 October 2022. 17 October 2022. cs.
  11. News: Josef. Dynter. Rajchl je posila, přináší protestní prvek, říká politolog na spojení s Okamurou. Mladá fronta Dnes. Mafra. 11 July 2024. cs.
  12. Web site: Poslední tažení Jaroslava Doubravy a proruská PRO . Manipulátoři.cz. 20 August 2022. 5 September 2022. cs.
  13. News: Podejte demisi, vyzval vládu Rajchl. Lidé demonstrovali před jejím sídlem. Rajchl called on the government to resign. People demonstrated in front of the government's seat. Mladá fronta Dnes. 16 April 2023. 2 May 2023. cs.
  14. News: Ondřej. Leinert. Johana. Kadeřábková. Rajchl s Haškem by chtěli být čeští Orbán a Fico. Spoléhají i na Zemana. Hospodářské noviny. 7 February 2024. 23 March 2024. cs.