ČSSD is also sending ex-prime minister Špidl to the fight for the Senate in Prague
Today, the party also presented a new form of coalition at the Prague municipality, which, in addition to the ČSSD and the Greens, also includes the Idealist and Future movements.
“Politics is based on experience. I have gained a lot of experience and I feel a certain obligation, because I still have the strength, to make that experience available,” said Špidla. He added that the current government is working in an ideologically risky framework that it cannot effectively solve from a fiscal point of view. Among other topics, he also mentioned energy regulation, including, for example, higher income taxes for energy companies.
The party’s candidate in the Prague 10 district is Štěpán Kavur, chairman of the Buči association, which helps socio-culturally disadvantaged people and the long-term unemployed. Kavur identified employment, support for vulnerable seniors and integration of members of national minorities, whether Roma or newly Ukrainian refugees, as important topics. According to him, it is also essential to ensure decent housing for everyone.
The last senate candidate of the party in the capital is Petr Pavlík, who teaches at the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University and in the past served as the Minister of Education and the chairman of the Prague organization of the party. He identified education as his main topic, which, according to him, is neglected by the current government.
Party chairman Michal Šmarda further said that the party will field nine or ten candidates in this year’s elections. Elections will be held in one third of the Senate, i.e. in 27 constituencies. The chairman added that the party board will finally approve the candidates on Thursday, but he can already mention, for example, the candidacy of doctor and former social democratic MEP Olga Sehnalová in Kroměříž, municipal politician Olga Bastlová in Tábor or the defense of the seat of current senator Jaromír Strnad in Kutná Hora.
Representatives of the party together with their coalition partners today also presented an expanded coalition running for the Prague municipality under the name Solidarita, which is led by former ombudsman Anna Šabatová. In addition to the previously announced cooperation with the Greens, the new coalition also consists of the left-wing movements Future and Idealists.
Šabatová said that she considers it essential that left-wing entities cooperate, especially in a situation where the left is not actually represented in parliament. “I think this is a very dangerous situation for any society and can lead to a very turbulent and undesirable development,” she said, adding that in the situation, left-wing topics can be dangerously seized by populists.
Senate and municipal elections will be held on September 23 and 24. In Prague, elections are held in three senate districts and councils in the municipality and 57 city districts.