| Leader: | Libor Vondráček |
| Split: | Civic Democratic Party |
| Headquarters: | Hráského 2231/25148 00 Praha 4-Chodov, Prague |
| International: | International Alliance of Libertarian Parties Interlibertarians |
| Native Name: | Svobodní |
| Position: | Right-wing[1] |
| Membership Year: | 2023 |
| Membership: | 333[2] |
| Newspaper: | Beran Magazine |
| Colours: | Green |
| Seats1 Title: | Chamber of Deputies |
| Seats2 Title: | Senate |
| Seats3 Title: | European Parliament |
| Seats4 Title: | Regional councils |
| Seats5 Title: | Local councils |
| Country: | the Czech Republic |
Svobodní, formerly known as Party of Free Citizens or the Free Citizens' Party until 2019,[3] is a classic liberal and right-libertarian,[4] Eurosceptic political party in the Czech Republic founded in 2009 by Petr Mach, an economist and professor of macroeconomics. Prior to assuming his position as an MEP, Mach taught economics at VŠFS and VŠEM (two private business colleges in Prague). The party is led by Libor Vondráček.
Svobodní participated in the 2009 European Parliament election in the Czech Republic. Its platform called for a referendum on the introduction of the euro in the Czech Republic and the rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon. The party unsuccessfully negotiated with Declan Ganley to join his European Union-wide Libertas movement.[5] Its symbol is the green outline of a ram's horns.[6] [7] After the 2014 European Parliament election, the party's MEP joined the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group. Party is member of the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties and Interlibertarians.[8]
Several county councilors successfully ran on the party's ballot in the 2010 local elections as thirty-eight councilors held positions, primarily in towns and small cities. The party fielded candidates in the 2014 local elections, increasing its number of councilors. There are elected councilors in city districts (Prague 3, Prague 18 and Brno-Slatina) and towns (Chrudim, Hodonín and Kutná Hora).
The party may be described as libertarian, opposing high government involvement in the economy[9] [10] and personal lives[11] and the centralization of political power. Its free market advocates often adhere to the Austrian School of economics. They aim to lower tax rates, restrict state redistribution of wealth as much as possible[10] [12] The party believes that downsizing the government would leave less opportunity for corruption, a problematic issue in Czech politics. They also say that Czech sovereignty is indispensable for a true democratic system and they see the respect for state free-making decisions as an analogy of respect for human freedom.[11] https://www.svobodni.cz/politicka-filosofie-svobodnych/
The party has contested four elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Parliament.
| Year | Leader | Votes | Percentage | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Petr Mach | 38,897 | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| 2013 | Petr Mach | 122,564 | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | Petr Mach | 79,229 | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| 2021 | Zuzana Majerová Zahradníková | 148,457 | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Part of Tricolour–Svobodní–Soukromníci coalition, which won 0 seats in total | ||||
| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Petr Mach | 29,846 | 1.3 (#11) | New | − | |
| 2014 | 79,540 | 5.2 (#7) | 1 | EFDD | ||
| 2019 | Vít Jedlička | 15,492 | 0.7 (#13) | 1 | − | |
| 2024 | Libor Vondráček | 52,408 | 1.76 (#10) | 0 |