Freedom and Direct Democracy

The party was founded in May 2015 by Tomio Okamura and Radim Fiala when eight Members of Parliament split from the Dawn of Direct Democracy parliamentary group. As the party was newly-formed in that parliamentary term, these MPs sat as independents until the 2017 Czech legislative election. Following that election, the party held 22 seats in the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

Freedom and Direct Democracy is named after the European Parliament Eurosceptic political group Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy.{{cite web|last=Okamura|first=Tomio|url=http://spd.cz/rozhovor-tomia-okamury-eurozpravy-cz/|title=» Rozhovor Tomia Okamury pro EuroZprávy.cz|access-date=25 May 2016|website=Freedom and Direct Democracy}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rozhlas.cz/zpravy/politika/_zprava/okamura-a-fiala-skoncili-v-hnuti-usvit-zakladaji-novou-stranu--1486492|title=Okamura a Fiala skončili v hnutí Úsvit, zakládají novou stranu|date=5 May 2015 |access-date=25 May 2016|website=Czech Radio}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096898594-udalosti-komentare/4322-rekli-v-udalostech-komentarich/?strana=4 |title= Řekli v Událostech, komentářích — Události, komentáře|website=Czech Television|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009205616/https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096898594-udalosti-komentare/4322-rekli-v-udalostech-komentarich/?strana=4 |archive-date=October 9, 2015}} The party has links with Marine Le Pen's National Front which is a member of the Europe of Nations and Freedom, a separate Eurosceptic political group in the European Parliament,{{cite web|url=http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/arena/monitor/Tomio-Okamura-svolal-vsechny-sve-lidi-a-bylo-rusno-Nepratelsti-vetrelci-Pokus-o-vrazdu-Delegace-od-Marine-Le-Pen-i-provolani-k-Zemanovi-412586|first=Jan |last=Rychetský |date=12 December 2015|title=Tomio Okamura svolal všechny své lidi a bylo rušno: Nepřátelští vetřelci! Pokus o vraždu. Delegace od Marine Le Pen i provolání k Zemanovi|access-date=30 November 2023|website=Parlamentni Listy|language=cs}} and Marine Le Pen endorsed SPD before the 2017 Czech legislative election.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QM5QkCyQzM|title=Marine Le Pen supports Tomio Okamura, President of the SPD, member of the MENF|date=19 October 2017|via=YouTube}}

In December 2017, SPD hosted a conference of the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom in Prague, with parties such as the French National Front, Dutch Party for Freedom, Freedom Party of Austria and Lega Nord of Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/le-pen-to-appear-at-december-event-with-okamura-in-prague|title=Le Pen to appear at December event with Okamura in Prague|website=Radio Prague|first=Ian |last=Willoughby |access-date=30 November 2023|date=15 November 2017}}

In 2019, following the European Parliament elections, SPD entered the European Parliament with two MEPs, who sit with the Identity and Democracy group.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-28|title=Czechia sends representatives of populist ANO, neo-fascist SPD and Communists to European Parliament|url=http://intellinews.com/czechia-sends-representatives-of-populist-ano-neo-fascist-spd-and-communists-to-european-parliament-161900/|access-date=2021-02-02|website=intellinews.com}}

In July 2020, SPD MP Tereza Hyťhová defected to become the third MP for the Tricolour Citizens' Movement.{{cite web |title=Hyťhová opouští poslanecký klub SPD, bude spolupracovat s Trikolórou |url=https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/hythova-spd-konec-trikolora.A200727_125620_domaci_kop |website=iDNES.cz |access-date=27 July 2020 |date=27 July 2020|language=cs}}

During the 2021 Czech legislative election, SPD finished fourth with 20 MPs.{{Cite web|title=Results|url=https://www.e15.cz/volby-snemovna|access-date=2021-10-10|website=E15.cz|language=cs}}

On 25 February 2022,{{cite web |title=Institut svobody a přímé demokracie, z. ú. - IČO 14294982 - Obchodní rejstřík na Podnikatel.cz |url=https://www.podnikatel.cz/rejstrik/institut-svobody-a-prime-demokracie-z-u-14294982/ |website=Podnikatel.cz |access-date=22 April 2022 |language=cs}} the party established its own think tank, the Institute of Freedom and Direct Democracy,{{cite web |title=SPD připravuje vlastní politický institut. Dostane na něj peníze od státu |url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/domaci-politika-spd-pripravuje-vlastni-politicky-institut-dostane-na-nej-penize-od-statu-184057 |website=Seznam Zprávy|date=January 2022 |access-date=21 April 2022|language=cs}} focused on the "development of democracy, the rule of law, pluralism of opinions and the protection of fundamental human rights",{{cite web |title=SPD má vlastní politickou neziskovku. Chce s ní rozvíjet demokracii a podporovat "vlastence" |url=http://www.romea.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/spd-ma-vlastni-politickou-neziskovku.chce-s-ni-rozvijet-demokracii-a-podporovat-vlastence |website=romea.cz |date=2 March 2022 |access-date=22 April 2022|language=cs}} with Josef Nerušil as its first Chairman.{{cite web |title=SPD má vlastní politickou neziskovku. Chce s ní rozvíjet demokracii a podporovat "vlastence" |url=https://hlidacipes.org/spd-ma-vlastni-politickou-neziskovku-chce-s-ni-rozvijet-demokracii-a-podporovat-vlastence/ |website=HlídacíPes.org |access-date=22 April 2022 |language=cs |date=1 March 2022}}

On 14 September 2022, MEP Hynek Blaško left SPD due to disagreement with Okamura's leadership of the party.{{cite web |first=Jan|last=Pánik|title=Blaško odešel z SPD. Holedbáte se demokracií, ale realita je zcela odlišná, napsal Okamurovi |url=https://www.forum24.cz/blasko-odesel-z-spd-holedbate-se-demokracii-ale-realita-je-zcela-odlisna-napsal-okamurovi/|website=forum24.cz|access-date=15 September 2022 |language=cs|date=15 September 2022}}

On 28 June 2024, Freedom and Direct Democracy announced it would leave the Identity and Democracy group to form a new, Alternative for Germany-led group called "Europe of Sovereign Nations", citing disagreements with ANO 2011 on the European Green Deal, immigration, censorship and Ukraine.{{cite news|work=Aktualne.cz|title=Hnutí SPD bude v EP součástí nové frakce Evropa suverénních národů|url=https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/hnuti-spd-bude-v-ep-soucasti-nove-frakce-evropa-suverennich/r~ca050188354411efb689ac1f6b220ee8/|date=28 June 2024}}{{Cite news|work=Hospodárske noviny|title="Že jsou označováni za nácky? Mně jsou blízcí." SPD v europarlamentu míří do frakce vedené AfD|date=28 June 2024|url=https://zahranicni.hn.cz/c1-67338770-bdquo-ze-jsou-oznacovani-za-nacky-mne-jsou-blizci-ldquo-spd-v-europarlamentu-miri-do-frakce-vedene-afd}}

The party's youth wing, Mladí Espéďáci ({{langx|en|Young SPD members}}; MES) was established in April 2021 via Facebook,{{cite web |title=Sexuální násilí, klimatické změny, bydlení. Mladí straníci řekli, co štve vrstevníky |url=https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/sexualni-nasili-klimaticke-zmeny-bydleni-mladi-stranici/r~53afe4da19fe11ec9322ac1f6b220ee8/ |website=Aktuálně.cz|access-date=20 April 2022 |language=cs |date=22 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=Okamurovi mládežníci startují. Na sociálních sítích rychle rostou |url=https://slisty.cz/okamurovi-mladeznici-startuji-na-socialnich-sitich-rychle-rostou/ |website=Studentské listy |access-date=20 April 2022 |language=cs |date=22 June 2021}} with Martin Malášek as the first leader. Diana Chodžajanová, a former contestant in Česko hledá SuperStar, became one of the faces of MES, appearing in short clips to promote the organisation.{{cite web |title=Kráska ze SuperStar natáčí klipy pro SPD. Stala se tváří jejich mládežnické organizace |url=https://instazpravy.cz/kraska-ze-superstar-nataci-klipy-pro-spd-stala-se-tvari-jejich-mladeznicke-organizace/ |website=Insta Zprávy |date=29 July 2021 |access-date=20 April 2022 |language=cs}} In July 2022 the MES page was removed from Facebook.{{cite web |title=Vrchní cenzor Tomio Okamura najednou bojuje za svobodu slova |url=https://www.forum24.cz/vrchni-cenzor-tomio-okamura-najednou-bojuje-za-svobodu-slova/ |website=forum24.cz |access-date=20 April 2022 |language=cs}}

A 2017 song by SPD supporters Jan Žižka and Olivie Žižková called Já volím SPD (I'm voting SPD) went viral in the Czech Republic and became the target of ridicule.{{cite web | title=Lezou z popelnic, chodí bosi, zpívají a nelžou. Na co politici loví voliče? | website=iDNES.cz | date=2018-09-21 | url=https://www.idnes.cz/volby/komunalni-volby-senat-predvolebni-klipy.A180918_134500_domaci_bja | language=cs | access-date=2024-06-11}}{{cite web | title=Xenofóbna česká speváčka otrasnou pesničkou podporuje Okamurovu stranu. Najhorší je rap jej manžela | website=closer.sme.sk | date=2017-06-14 | url=https://closer.sme.sk/c/20558471/xenofobna-ceska-spevacka-otrasnou-pesnickou-podporuje-okamurovu-stranu-najhorsi-je-rap-jej-manzela.html | language=sk | access-date=2024-06-11}} This led to Žižková being jokingly voted into the top 30 female singers at the 2017 Český slavík awards.{{cite web | last=Rožánek | first=Filip | title=Českého slavíka doběhly jeho metody | website=Hospodářské noviny (HN.cz) | date=2017-12-04 | url=https://archiv.hn.cz/c1-65977430-ceskeho-slavika-dobehly-jeho-metody | language=cs | access-date=2024-06-11}}

{{Neo-fascism}}

On its website and policy brief, SPD refers to itself as "a patriotic and democratic movement" with a focus on political reform, law and order, direct democracy, entrepreneurship and national sovereignty. It also claims to seek support from ordinary working citizens, small business owners and middle class professionals. The party also wants to reduce state-surveillance, reform the Czech tax system, support internet freedom and encourage more citizen led participation in national politics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spd.cz/program-vypis/|title=Program|website=Freedom and Direct Democracy|language=cs}} Political commentators have variously described the party as right-wing populist, nationalist and anti-immigration in its platform and rhetoric. SPD has described itself as a national conservative party.{{cite web | url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/spd-tomio-okamura-radim-fiala-stranicky-kompas-irozhlas_2310300500_jgr | title=Jak Okamurovo hnutí vnímají jeho politici? SPD chce být národně konzervativní, pravolevé dělení neřeší | date=30 October 2023}} In April 2023, a court ruled that a description of the party as "fascist" by the magazine Respekt was "in accordance with the requirement of proportionality", and the magazine did not thus need to apologise for using this description.{{Cite web|url=https://www.respekt.cz/podcast/spd-lze-oznacit-za-parlamentni-fasisticke-hnuti-proc-soud-smetl-okamurovu-zalobu-na-respekt|title=SPD lze označit za "parlamentní fašistické hnutí". Proč soud smetl žalobu na Respekt|website=Týdeník Respekt}}{{cite web | url=https://romea.cz/en/czech-republic/czech-court-rules-it-is-proportionate-for-tomio-okamuras-freedom-and-direct-democracy-to-be-called-fascist-verdict-has-taken-effect | title=Czech court rules it is proportionate for "Tomio Okamura's Freedom and Direct Democracy" to be called fascist, verdict has taken effect | date=26 April 2023}} SPD has been described as neo-fascist by news outlets Balkan Insight and bne Intellinews.{{cite news |last= Anderson |first= Rob |date= 15 July 2019 |title= Summer Strife Puts Czech PM's Populism to the Test |url= https://balkaninsight.com/2019/07/15/summer-strife-puts-czech-pms-populism-to-the-test/ |work= Balkan Insight |access-date= 21 May 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2017-11-23 |title=Visegrad: Babis threatens Czech election losers with nightmare scenario |url=https://www.intellinews.com/visegrad-babis-threatens-czech-election-losers-with-nightmare-scenario-132978/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=bne Intellinews}}

The party is opposed to Czech membership of the European Union and calls for the Czech Republic to leave the bloc. The party also wants to pursue a more restrictive immigration policy, particularly towards immigration from Islamic nations, and rejects multiculturalism. It is strongly opposed to illegal immigration and the EU's policy of migrant quotas. The party itself claims that it does not seek to promote hatred towards any race or culture, but argues for the protection of "Judeo-Christian" values{{Cite web|url=https://www.spd.cz/program-vypis/#7279|title = Program|website=Freedom and Direct Democracy|language=cs}} and believes that migrant quotas will lead to the "Islamization" of Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/czech-far-right-leader-tomio-okamura-urges-citizens-walk-pigs-near-mosques-defend-country-islam-1481888|title=Czech far-right leader Tomio Okamura urges citizens to walk pigs near mosques to defend country from Islam|date=5 January 2015|access-date=3 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Far-right leaders gather in Prague ahead of EU vote|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/far-right-leaders-gather-in-prague-ahead-of-eu-vote/|date=25 April 2019|work=Euractive|access-date= 8 September 2019}}{{cite web|title=In Prague, Europe's far-right celebrates the Austrian coalition|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/in-prague-europes-far-right-celebrates-the-austrian-coalition/|date=17 December 2017|work=Euractive|access-date= 8 September 2019}}{{cite web|title=Far-right scores surprise success in Czech election|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-election-farright/far-right-scores-surprise-success-in-czech-election-idUSKBN1CQ0T3|date=21 October 2017|work=Reuters|access-date= 8 September 2019}} SPD takes a pro-Israel stance on the Gaza war, with Okamura stating that he supports Israel on all major issues.{{cite web | url=https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/snemovna-okamura-cernochova-izrael/r~966d59be7a3811ee8980ac1f6b220ee8/ | title=Jste blázen a odporný člověk, útočil Okamura na ministryni obrany kvůli Izraeli |website=Aktuálně.cz|language=cs | date=3 November 2023|publisher=Economia}} Okamura has called for ending Czech military aid to Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War and advocated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.{{cite web | url=https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/podcasty-politalk-okamura-ukrajinci-jsou-nackove-a-to-je-jeste-jemne-slovo-40466692 | title=Okamura označil Ukrajince za "nácky", válku podle něj ukončí Trump|website=Novinky.cz|publisher=Borgis|date=8 April 2024|language=cs}}

Tomio Okamura often claims that SPD has a membership of thousands of members. In October 2017 he claimed that SPD has 7,000 members,{{cite web|title=Okamura chce s SPD do vlády. Podmínkou je pro něj zákon o referendu|url=https://www.euro.cz/volby-2017/okamura-chce-s-spd-do-vlady-podminkou-je-pro-nej-zakon-o-referendu-1376425|website=Euro.cz|access-date=9 December 2017|language=cs|date=6 October 2017}} and in November 2017 12,000 members.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} Doubt has been cast on these figures, with the suggestion that Okamura often conflates numbers of supporters with actual members. It was reported in 2015 that SPD had only 20 members, compared to Okamura's claims of 10,000.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} In February 2018 the party stated that it had 1,200 members.{{cite web|title=Nové straníky táhne do partají volební úspěch i propad|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/462842-nove-straniky-tahne-do-partaji-volebni-uspech-i-propad.html|website=Novinky.cz|date=9 February 2018 |access-date=9 February 2018|language=cs}} The party had 1,400 members in July 2018.{{cite web |title=Okamura zítra obhajuje post šéfa SPD |url=https://www.pressreader.com/czech-republic/mf-dnes/20180713/281603831234785 |via=PressReader|access-date=14 July 2018|language=cs}}

File:2017 SPD (Czechia).svg

{{Notelist}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Hloušek |first1=Vít |last2=Kopeček |first2=Lubomír |last3=Vodová |first3=Petra |title=The Rise of Entrepreneurial Parties in European Politics |date=2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-41916-5}}

• [http://www.spd.cz/ Official website]

{{Fascism}}

{{Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD)|state=collapsed}}

{{Czech political parties}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedom and Direct Democracy}}

Category:2015 establishments in the Czech Republic

Category:Political parties established in 2015

Category:Direct democracy parties in the Czech Republic

Category:Eurosceptic parties in the Czech Republic

Category:Far-right political parties in the Czech Republic

Category:Fascism in Europe

Category:Neo-fascist parties

Category:Right-wing populism in the Czech Republic

Category:Anti-immigration politics in Europe

Category:Anti-Islam political parties in the Czech Republic

Category:Nationalist parties in the Czech Republic

Category:Member parties of the Identity and Democracy Party

Category:Populism in the Czech Republic

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