Czech President warns Democracy is in danger

President Petr Pavel warned of the need to protect democracy and its erosion in countries like the UK and the US during the 34th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution – the event leading to the end of the communist regime in the Czech Republic and its transition to a democratic country – on Friday.

The president also emphasised that the overall situation, not only in the Czech Republic but also in the world, “is not improving significantly” as new conflicts and problems emerge. However, he pointed out that successes should be remembered.

“Anyone who thinks that the victory of democracy is once and for all is grossly mistaken. Democracy must be protected,” the president told Czech Television on Friday.

“There is some erosion of democracy even in countries where a few years ago we would never have entertained the idea, like the United Kingdom and the United States. To think that the Czech Republic will be an exception is an illusion,” he warned, not specifying how democracy might be eroding in the two named countries.

The Czech Republic was ruled by the communist party for 41 years and was a so-called satellite state of the Soviet Union. After 17 November 1989, it launched a democratic transformation and later joined the EU and NATO with other former satellite states.

“In more than 30 years, we have made a huge leap forward,” Pavel said, adding that the Czech Republic currently has strong and functioning institutions.

Some politicians used 17 November to question democracy. Among them is former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, leader of the political party ANO (Renew). According to the latest polls, ANO has more than 30% support but is currently in opposition. The next general elections in the country will take place in 2025.

Babiš, a billionaire and former owner of media outlets, criticised mainly the current government and the media. “They are trying to privatise the democracy brought about by the revolution in November 1989,” the opposition leader said. However, he did not specify how this was being done.

Speakers of both chambers of the parliament later downplayed Babiš’s. Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09, EPP) said that Babiš “does not understand or wants t to understand democracy”.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)