Tomáš Zdechovský

{{Short description|Czech politician and businessperson (born 1979)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-suffix = MEP

| name = Tomáš Zdechovský

| image = File:1718798537845 20240618 ZDECHOVSKY Tomas CZ 005.jpg

| party = KDU-ČSL

| office2 = Member of the European Parliament for Czech Republic

| term_start2 = 1 July 2014

| constituency2 = Czech Republic

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|11|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Havlíčkův Brod, Czechoslovakia

| nationality = Czech

| alma_mater = Masaryk University, University of South Bohemia

| profession = Crisis manager, media analyst, author

| website = {{URL|http://zdechovsky.eu}}

| caption = Official portrait, 2024

}}

Tomáš Zdechovský (born 2 November 1979){{Cite web|title=Tomáš Zdechovský|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124713/TOMAS_ZDECHOVSKY/home|website=European Parliament|access-date=12 February 2017}} is a Czech politician and businessperson. In 2004, he founded Commservis.com, a communications and PR agency, of which he was CEO until his election as a Member of the European Parliament in 2014. Since 2014 he has been a Member of the European Parliament with KDU-ČSL, which is part of the European Peoples Party.

Early life and education

Tomáš Zdechovský grew up in the village of Kožlí and graduated from the gymnasium in Ledeč nad Sázavou.

Zdechovský has earned three master's degrees. Two of them at the University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Pastoral Assistant and Educator of Free Time). The third he made at the Masaryk University in Media studies.{{Cite web|title=Tomáš Zdechovský|url=http://www.nasipolitici.cz/cs/politik/3315-tomas-zdechovsky|website=Naši Politici|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}} He also holds a bachelor's degree in Political Communication which he earned at the Salesian Pontifical University.

In September 2024 he completed his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia in the field of Rehabilitation.

Political career

Zdechovský is a member of the KDU-ČSL and served as its regional manager in the Pardubice region from 2007 until 2008. He ran for the 2009 European Parliament election on the 14th place of party list, however he was not elected.{{Cite web|title=Přednostní hlasy pro kandidáty|url=http://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2009/ep1511?xjazyk=CZ&xnumnuts=0&xstrana=2|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}

Zdechovský received much appraisal and great response for his nomination speech at the Congress of KDU-ČSL, held in June 2013 in Olomouc. During the 2009 European Parliament election, he finished third place as a candidate of KDU-ČSL was elected MEP for the eighth legislature of the house.{{Cite web|title=Volby do Evropského parlamentu konané na území České republiky ve dnech 2014|url=http://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2014/ep1511?xjazyk=CZ&xnumnuts=0&xstrana=5|access-date=12 February 2017}} In 2019, he ran for the European Parliament for the third time and was re-elected.{{Cite web|title=Volby do Evropského parlamentu konané na území České republiky ve dnech 2019|url=https://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2019/ep2111?xjazyk=CZ&xv=2&xt=2&xstrana=0|publisher=Czech Statistical Office|access-date=9 September 2024|language=cs}}

Zdechovský announced his intention to run for chairman of KDU-ČSL on 2 December 2019.{{Cite news|title=Europoslanec Tomáš Zdechovský bude kandidovat na předsedu KDU-ČSL|url=https://denikn.cz/minuta/244694/|newspaper=Deník N|publisher=N Media|date=2 December 2019|access-date=6 December 2019|language=cs}} However, at a party conference, he decided to withdraw his candidacy and ran for the deputy chairman of the party instead.{{Cite news|title=The Christian Democrats elected Jurečka as chairman. The congress was unusually green|url=http://engnews24h.com/the-christian-democrats-elected-jurecka-as-chairman-the-congress-was-unusually-green/|website=engnews24h.com|date=25 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Novým předsedou KDU-ČSL je Marian Jurečka, první místopředsedkyní zůstává Šárka Jelínková|url=https://www.kdu.cz/aktualne/sjezd-kdu-csl-2020/online/novym-predsedou-kdu-csl-se-stal-marian-jurecka|website=KDU-ČSL Official Website|date=25 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|language=cs}}

He was elected for the third time in the European Parliament elections in 2024.{{cite web |title=Preferential votes for candidates |url=https://www.volby.cz/pls/ep2024/ep1511?xjazyk=EN&xstrana=17 |website=volby.cz |publisher=Czech Statistical Office |access-date=13 November 2024}}

Political views

= Migrant Crisis in Italy and Greece =

Zdechovský has also explained on the European migrant crisis several times, having visited a couple of refugee camps in Sicily in July 2015. He said most of the people in local refugee camps were actually economic migrants.{{cite news|url=http://hradecky.denik.cz/z-regionu/europoslanec-zdechovsky-navstivil-uprchlicke-tabory-na-sicilii-20150801.html|title=Europoslanec Zdechovský navštívil uprchlické tábory na Sicílii|newspaper=Deník|publisher=Vltave Labe Media|date=1 August 2015|access-date=12 February 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Europoslanec objel uprchlické tábory. "Neutíkají před válkou," říká|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/1559340-europoslanec-objel-uprchlicke-tabory-neutikaji-pred-valkou-rika|publisher=Czech Television|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}} Furthermore, his criticism is aimed at Greece, which according to his words has neglected the border controls and registration of newcomers.{{Cite web|first=Tomáš|last=Zdechovský|title=Sháním cestu do Evropy, zn. levně a bezpečně|url=http://zdechovsky.blog.idnes.cz/blog.aspx?c=481284|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|publisher=Mafra|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kdu.cz/aktualne/uprchlici/chat|title=KDU-ČSL – On-line chat|access-date=12 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120011439/http://www.kdu.cz/aktualne/uprchlici/chat|archive-date=20 January 2016|language=cs}}{{Cite magazine|title=Jak Evropa zvládá nápor uprchlíků? Co si o nás myslí Evropa?|url=http://www.tyden.cz/chat-s-osobnosti/jak-evropa-zvlada-napor-uprchliku-co-si-o-nas-mysli-evropa_752/|magazine=Týden|publisher=Empresa Media|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}

= Child Protection Service in Norway=

Zdechovský has been dealing the Michalák Case since 2014.{{Cite web|title=Zdechovský (KDU-ČSL) se zastal matky, které byly v Norsku odebrány děti|url=http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/politika/politici-volicum/Zdechovsky-KDU-CSL-se-zastal-matky-ktere-byly-v-Norsku-odebrany-deti-345780|website=Parlamentní Listy|date=13 November 2014|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}{{Cite web|title=Čeští europoslanci zahájili sbírku na návrat českých dětí zadržovaných v Norsku|url=http://www.reflex.cz/clanek/zpravy/60265/cesti-europoslanci-zahajili-sbirku-na-navrat-ceskych-deti-zadrzovanych-v-norsku.html|website=Reflex.cz|date=12 November 2014|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}} He criticises the practice of the Norwegian Barnevernet and Norwegian child protection policy entirely and demands its modification.{{Cite web|title=Zdechovský (KDU-ČSL): V Oslu se uskuteční demonstrace proti Barnevernetu|url=http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/politika/politici-volicum/Zdechovsky-KDU-CSL-V-Oslu-se-uskutecni-demonstrace-proti-Barnevernetu-360815|url-access=limited|website=Parlamentní Listy|date=7 February 2015|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}{{Cite news|first=Justin|last=Cremer|title=Europe issues "serious warning" to Norway over child welfare service|url=https://www.thelocal.no/20170215/norway-barnevernet-serious-warning-echr-human-rights|newspaper=The Local|date= 15 February 2017|access-date=13 October 2018}} In late 2014, together with his fellow MEP Petr Mach, he began to actively engage in a campaign to return of Eva Michaláková's two sons, who had been taken away by Norwegian local Child Welfare Service. Both MEPs organized money collection for counsel in mother's litigation.{{Cite web|title=Čeští europoslanci zahájili sbírku na návrat českých dětí zadržovaných v Norsku|url=https://www.reflex.cz/clanek/zpravy/60265/cesti-europoslanci-zahajili-sbirku-na-navrat-ceskych-deti-zadrzovanych-v-norsku.html|website=Reflex.cz|date=12 November 2014|access-date=9 October 2018|language=cs}} Zdechovský also initiated an open letter to the Norwegian authorities, which was signed by nearly 50 MEPs from different countries and factions in the European Parliament.{{cite web|first=Michaela|last=Cápová|title=Naštvaní europoslanci píší do Norska. Kvůli českým dětem |url=https://echo24.cz/a/ibWqh/nastvani-europoslanci-pisi-do-norska-kvuli-ceskym-detem |website=Echo24 |date=6 December 2014|access-date=9 October 2018|language=cs}}

Zdechovský is also the author of the introduction to the book Stolen Childhood: The Truth About Norway's Child Welfare System. The book was published in 2019 and deals with the issue of taking children away from their parents by Norwegian child protection service Barnevernet, the causes of the great influence of this institution and the reasons of the frequent criticism of Barnevernet for alleged human rights violations.{{Cite web|title=Nová kniha jde tvrdě po Barnevernetu. Už toho bylo víc než dost, vzkazují autoři|url=https://echo24.cz/a/ScYAh/nova-kniha-jde-tvrde-po-barnevernetu-uz-toho-bylo-vic-nez-dost-vzkazuji-autori|website=Echo24.cz|date=8 April 2019|access-date=10 April 2019}}{{cite web|title=Stolen childhood {{!}} en viktig bok om norsk barnevern av Steven Bennet. Forord av Gro Hillestad Thune|url=https://www.irenehov.no/2019/04/stolen-childhood-en-viktig-bok-om-norsk-barnevern-av-steven-bennet/|website=Irene Hov|access-date=10 April 2019|language=no}}

Criticism

Zdechovský also called for further investigation of Andrej Babiš on the grounds of alleged fraud in obtaining EU subsidies, which were designated for small businesses and where actual ownership of a farm and convention center called Stork Nest by Babiš was allegedly concealed.{{Cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Rankin|title=EU antifraud office finds 'irregularities' in payments allegedly obtained by Czech PM|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/05/eu-antifraud-office-finds-irregularities-in-payments-allegedly-obtained-by-czech-pm|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 January 2018|access-date=9 October 2018}} He also referred to alleged conflict of interest of Babiš in receiving EU subsidies for the Agrofert group due to suspicion that the latter was still actual owner even when a member of the Czech government.{{Cite web|first=Karolína|last=Vaverková|title='Babiš stále vede Agrofert.' Evropská komise musí říct, zda je Babiš ve střetu zájmů|url=https://echo24.cz/a/S3WEp/babis-stale-vede-agrofert--evropska-komise-musi-rict-zda-je-babis-ve-stretu-zajmu |website=Echo24|date=11 September 2018|access-date=9 October 2018|language=cs}}

Zdechovský has also pointed out the problem of mileage fraud, which concerns the second-hand car market in the Czech Republic in particular as well as other Central and Eastern Europe in general. He argues that the introduction of the Car-Pass System which has been applied in Belgium since 2006 is an effective way to tackle and prevent such fraud throughout Europe.{{Cite web|title=Mileage fraud resonates across the EU|url=http://img.e15.cz/static/editions/pdf/49/2016/E15W-2016-11-14.pdf|website=E15|access-date=17 May 2017|language=cs}}{{Cite web|title=Musíme skoncovat s podvody při nákupu ojetých aut|date= 6 February 2017|url=http://echo24.cz/a/iPt99/musime-skoncovat-spodvody-pri-nakupu-ojetych-aut|website=Echo24|access-date=17 May 2017|language=cs}}{{Cite web|title=Written Declaration 0030/2016|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WDECL&reference=P8-DCL-2016-0030&format=PDF&language=EN|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=17 May 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Europe needs to tackle widespread mileage fraud in cars|url=https://www.car-pass.be/files/article_files/file/27/20151202%20workshop%20mileage%20fraud%20ep.pdf|website=Car-Pass|access-date=17 May 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Odometer fraud resonates across the whole European Union|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/road-safety/opinion/odometer-fraud-resonates-across-the-whole-european-union/|website=Euractiv|publisher=Mediahuis|date=15 May 2017|access-date=17 May 2017}}

Literature career

Zdechovský co-found of the group of poets called Friends of the Silent Poetic Touch ({{Langx|cs|Přátelé tichého dotyku}}) and the author of its manifesto protesting against the cultural decline of Czech society. He has published four collections of poems: Ze zahrady mé milé ({{Lit|From the Garden of my Beloved One}}),{{Cite web|title=Zdechovského básně jsou přeloženy do hebrejštiny|url=http://www.vysocina-news.cz/clanek/zdechovskeho-basne-jsou-prelozeny-do-hebrejstiny/email/|website=Vysocina News|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006160925/http://www.vysocina-news.cz/clanek/zdechovskeho-basne-jsou-prelozeny-do-hebrejstiny/email/|archive-date=6 October 2014}} Odpusť mým rtům ({{Lit|Forgive My Lips}}), Intimní doteky ({{Lit|Intimate Touches}}),{{Cite web|title=Intimní doteky|url=http://www.ikarmel.cz/kniha/Intimni-doteky_TRI0115.html|website=ikarmel.cz|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}} and Kapka (The Drop).{{Cite web|title=Kapka (Tomáš Zdechovský) {{!}} Diskuze o knize|url=https://www.cbdb.cz//kniha-177936-kapka|website=ČBDB.cz|access-date=9 September 2024|language=cs}}

In 2013, Zdechovský published his first novel titled Nekonečné ticho ({{Lit|Infinite Silence}}), which is about the relationship between a young man with an older woman. The book was illustrated by painter and graphic artist Klára Klose.{{Cite book|title=Nekonečné ticho|url=http://www.kosmas.cz/knihy/188807/nekonecne-ticho/|publisher=Kosmas|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}

Other Activities

Zdechovský was one of the founders of an initiative called Save Baby Jesus ({{Langx|cs|Zachraňte Ježíška}}) in 2008 which aims at defending Czech Christmas traditions against Santa Claus.{{Cite web|title=Anketa: Zachraňte Ježíška! vyzývá petice|url=http://chrudimsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/zachrante-jeziska20081210.html|newspaper=Deník|date=10 December 2008|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}} Together with Roman Celý, Christian Democratic Member of the Czech parliament, he criticised the replacement of the "peaceful" Czech All Souls Day (dušičky) in local schools with that "crazy" Halloween.{{Cite web|first=Elizabeth|last=Haas|title=Christian Dems to Fight Halloween in Czech Schools|url=http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/weekly-czech-news/christian-dems-to-fight-halloween-in-Czech-schools/|url-status=dead|website=Expats.cz|date=5 November 2015|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164401/http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/weekly-czech-news/christian-dems-to-fight-halloween-in-Czech-schools/|archive-date=13 February 2017}}

In 2012, Zdechovský was the main organiser of the proposal for the establishment of a bishopric for the region of Vysočina. The signature initiative was supported by former chairman of KDU-ČSL Jan Kasal, regional chairman TOP 09 Jiři Blazek, and regional councillor Tomáš Škaryd (ČSSD). However, the Roman Catholic parish in Jihlava distanced itself from the suggestion and dubbed these initiative rather ridiculous.{{cite web|title=Chceme vlastní biskupství, napsali katolíci z Vysočiny papeži|url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/katolici-chteji-na-vysocine-vlastni-biskupstvi-f5h-/domaci.aspx?c=A120716_105700_jihlava-zpravy_mkk|newspaper=Mladá fronta Dnes|publisher=Mafra|date=16 July 2012|access-date=12 February 2017|language=cs}}

Zdechovský has also long been involved in the cases of Czech truck drivers in England and France, who got into trouble when their vehicle checks revealed that illegal migrants had got into the cargo area without consciousness of drivers.{{Cite web|first=Karolína|last=Vaverková|title=Propusťte řidiče Sagana z vězení, píše český europoslanec Macronovi|url=https://echo24.cz/a/SMYh3/propustte-ridice-sagana-z-vezeni-pise-cesky-europoslanec-macronovi|website=Echo24|date=6 October 2018|access-date=9 October 2018|language=cs}}{{Cite news|first=Karolína|last=Vaverková|title=Czech MEP tells Macron to release innocent driver from prison|url=https://rmx.news/content/czech-mep-tells-macron-release-innocent-driver-prison|newspaper=Remix News|date=8 October 2018|access-date=9 October 2018}}

Tomáš Zdechovský also participated in negotiations for the release of Czech nationals detained or imprisoned abroad,such as the Czech reporter Radan Šprongl, detained in Thailand in 2017{{cite news |last1=Králová |first1=Lenka |title=Thajci propustili zadrženého českého novináře Šprongla |url=https://www.denik.cz/z_domova/exkluzivne-thajci-prave-propustili-zadrzeneho-ceskeho-novinare-sprongla-20170626.html |publisher=Denik.cz|access-date=13 November 2024 |date=26 June 2024}} or later in the case of Tereza Hlůšková, imprisoned in Pakistan for drug smuggling.{{cite news |title=Zdechovský: Za propuštěním Terezy jsou i tajné služby. Ukrývá se na bezpečném místě |url=https://cnn.iprima.cz/za-propustenim-terezy-jsou-i-tajne-sluzby-ukryva-se-na-bezpecnem-miste-tvrdi-zdechovsky-51520 |access-date=13 November 2024 |publisher=CNN Prima NEWS |date=20 November 2021}} He was also involved in the negotiations for the release of two Czechs, Miroslav Farkas and Markéta Všelichová, who were imprisoned in Turkey for collaborating with the Kurdish YPG militia, considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, and were finally released in July 2020.{{cite news |title=Turecko propustilo Čechy odsouzené za terorismus. Angažoval se i Zdechovský, Babiš děkuje BIS |url=https://eurozpravy.cz/domaci/politika/turecko-propustilo-cechy-odsouzene-za-terorismus-babis-dekuje-bis.99aca84b |access-date=13 November 2024 |issue=24 July 2020 |publisher=Eurozpravy.cz}}

References

External links

[https://www.euractiv.com/authors/tomas-zdechovsky/ Articles by Tomáš Zdechovský on Euractiv.com]
[http://www.mepranking.eu/mep.php?id=124713 MEP Ranking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301183017/http://www.mepranking.eu/mep.php?id=124713 |date=1 March 2017 }}
[http://www.zdechovsky.eu/ Tomáš Zdechovský website]

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:KDU-ČSL MEPs

Category:Czech poets

Category:Czech male poets

Category:MEPs for the Czech Republic 2014–2019

Category:Masaryk University alumni

Category:University of South Bohemia alumni

Category:MEPs for the Czech Republic 2019–2024

Category:Politicians from Havlíčkův Brod

Category:MEPs for the Czech Republic 2024–2029