Anti-Ukrainian rhetoric sparks bid to oust Czech Chamber of Deputies speaker

A political controversy has erupted in the Czech Republic following a New Year’s address by Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura, whose remarks included harsh anti-Ukrainian statements.

The speech triggered a strong backlash from opposition parties, which said such rhetoric was unacceptable for one of the country’s highest-ranking officials.

According to UNIAN, opposition lawmakers plan to begin collecting signatures next week to initiate a parliamentary vote on Okamura’s resignation. The initiative has already gained backing from several political forces, significantly increasing the likelihood that the issue will be formally considered by the legislature.

Opposition politicians described the New Year’s speech as manipulative and dangerous. Okamura has been accused of promoting pro-Russian narratives, frightening the public with warnings of “World War III,” and making offensive remarks about Ukraine and the leadership of the European Union. The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) said such statements undermine the Czech Republic’s foreign policy and objectively serve the interests of the Kremlin.

Okamura’s remarks were earlier sharply criticised by the Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, the speaker of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. He said the rhetoric was an insult to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who have been resisting “Russian aggression” for four years.

Okamura has rejected all allegations, claiming that his political opponents lack a positive agenda and are therefore attempting to discredit him.

The speaker, who leads the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party, has previously opposed assistance to Ukraine. In his New Year’s address, he referred to the Zelenskyy government as a “junta.”

In November, shortly after assuming the post of speaker, Okamura ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the building of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.

By Tamilla Hasanova