Czech political friction involving MP Jindřich Rajchl

Political tensions have intensified in the Czech Republic involving PRO party chairman and MP Jindřich Rajchl. Initially, Rajchl drew criticism for labeling President Petr Pavel an extremist, arguing that the President’s support for a ‘United States of Europe’ would cause the Czech Republic to disappear. He further characterized several political parties as extremists for supporting migration and the Green Deal.

Controversy escalated following Rajchl’s participation in a Prague conference organized by the Svatopluk association. The event, which focused on expanding trade relations between Central European countries and BRICS nations, featured Fyodor Lukyanov, a Russian commentator and editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs who is under European Union sanctions for providing ideological support to Russian aggression against Ukraine. During the session, Lukyanov reportedly issued warnings regarding nuclear threats to signal European states to cease military aid to Ukraine.

ODS chairman Martin Kupka condemned the event as an ‘odporné putinovské seanci’ (revolting Putinist session) and labeled Rajchl a ‘Kremlin collaborator,’ accusing him of attempting to mask insignificance with grandiloquent rhetoric. Kupka urged Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to distance the government from Rajchl. The conference also included appearances by former President Miloš Zeman and MEP Kateřina Konečná.

Rajchl has defended his involvement, describing Kupka’s criticism as ‘primitivního vyhrožování’ (primitive threats). He maintains that negotiation with Russia is necessary and stated his goal was to seek ways to de-escalate conflict, citing the travel of American diplomats to Moscow as a precedent for engagement.