Czech Opposition Seeks to Oust Far-Right Speaker Over ‘Ukrainian Thieves’ Rant

Czech opposition parties are pushing to remove the far-right parliamentary speaker from his job over anti-Ukrainian remarks, including accusations that Ukraine’s leadership is stealing Western aid to build “gold-plated toilets” for themselves.

In a fiery New Year’s address posted on X, Tomio Okamura, leader of the anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, sharply criticized military support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s nearly four-year invasion.

“You cannot use money that belongs to Czech pensioners, citizens with disabilities, and families with children to buy weapons and send them to wage a completely senseless war,” Okamura said.

He went on to claim that Western companies and governments were profiting from the conflict.

“Money is flowing in all directions, and everyone is making money from this business: Western companies and governments, as well as Ukrainian thieves around [President Volodymyr] Zelensky’s junta, who are building gold-plated toilets for themselves,” Okamura claimed.

“Let them steal – but not from our money, and this country [Ukraine] should not be in the European Union,” he added.

Dismissal bid launched

Following his remarks, which were sharply criticized by Ukrainian officials, Czech opposition parties announced on Friday that they would seek Okamura’s removal from the post of parliamentary speaker, arguing that his statements have tarnished the country’s international standing.

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Leaders from five opposition groups, including the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Mayors and Independents (STAN), Pirates, Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and TOP 09, said they would begin collecting signatures next week to trigger a parliamentary vote on Okamura’s dismissal.

Long-time critic of Kyiv

Okamura, who holds the third-highest constitutional office in the country, has long opposed aid to Ukraine.

His SPD party, known for its anti-immigration, Euroskeptic and anti-NATO stance, joined Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s coalition government after parliamentary elections in October.

Babiš shares Okamura’s stance against further military support and EU loans for Kyiv but has not commented on the speech.

Okamura’s first act as speaker in November was to order the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the parliament building a symbol of solidarity flying since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Opposition lawmakers responded by displaying multiple Ukrainian flags from their offices.

See the original of this report by Ammar Anwer for TVP World here.