EU critic elected Czech Chamber of Deputies
Prague (dpa) — The newly formed Czech Chamber of Deputies has elected Tomio Okamura, a staunch critic of the European Union and NATO, as its president.
The founder of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party received 107 votes, beating his Christian Democrat opponent Jan Bartosek, who received 81 votes.
His victory came despite a court having requested that Okamura’s immunity be lifted so that proceedings can be brought against him for incitement to hatred.
The case concerns a previous election campaign with allegedly racist content. Posters showed a blood-covered black man with a long knife alongside the slogan “Stop the EU migration pact.”
EU critic elected Czech Chamber of Deputies
Okamura was supported by election winner Andrej BabiÅ¡’s right-wing populist ANO party and the Motorists’ Party.
The three parties have a majority in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies, the more important of the two chambers of parliament. They have signed a coalition deal, but President Petr Pavel has the responsibility of appointing a prime minister.
Okamura’s own brother opposed his election as president of the house. In an emotional speech, he called the move a “serious threat” to the country’s security.
Outgoing Interior Minister Vit RakuÅ¡an spoke of an “international disgrace” for his country and warned of irreparable damage.
During the election campaign, Okamura called for a referendum on withdrawal from NATO.
He also threatened Ukrainians who do not work with the loss of their residence permits.
The 53-year-old was born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and a Czech mother, but has lived in Europe since childhood.
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