We were hoping for a better result, says the leader of the Pirates from Prague 8
photo: Facebook, with permission/Martin Šterba
INTERVIEW Martin Štěrba was the leader of the pirate candidates in Prague 8, where the Pirates won 11.59 percent and 6 representatives. Compared to the 2018 elections, they did worse. At that time, they won 15.85 percent and eight representatives. “We were hoping for a slightly better result. But again, compared to the assumptions given by nationwide research over the last year, we consider this a relatively decent result,” he told PrahaIN.cz.
How do you rate the campaign?
I would say that the campaign was fair with few exceptions on social networks. We enjoyed our three-week campaign in the streets. We discussed with the citizens, distributed 53 thousand of our Pirates’ leaflets, and our DJ’s also played on Palmovka and Ládví. I am happy with the way in which we together with the eight-year-old Pirates pulled together.
How do you rate the result of the Pirates in Prague 8?
We were hoping for a slightly better result. But again, compared to the assumptions given by nationwide research over the last year, we consider this a relatively decent result. Unfortunately, Libeňský mourek or Prague probably took away a few percent from us.
I was interested in the subject Libeňský mourek (4.22 percent). Did you expect that?
I admit that I expected this group to be around five percent. I expected that they would rather take the votes of voters who usually do not go to vote, however, it is clear from the results that they took a lot of votes from us as well.
Among others, the SPD and the Tricolor for the Eight succeeded. They have three mandates. It is a lot? Do you know their representative?
I am personally surprised that they crossed the five percent mark. This candidate offered more or less no program for our district before the election. It mainly used the nationwide anti-government sentiment and, as in the case of other elections, it also used disinformation and lies. I know the newly elected representatives Mr. Musílek and Mr. Novák only from social networks, we have never met in person. The values of neither of them are compatible with ours.
Will you leave the SPD out of the negotiations, as is the case in other municipalities?
Yes. Even before the elections, we clearly determined in our post-election strategy that we would not negotiate with the SPD and KSČM. Since Sunday, our negotiating team and I have met with all the other parties that have made it to the Municipal Council of Prague 8. We have not only met with the representatives elected on the SPD and Trikolor candidates.
What, if anything, surprised you about the situation AFTER the elections?
All negotiations were correct, nothing surprised us. Yet
Can you estimate the development of the Prague municipality?
I believe that it will mainly benefit the citizens of the capital. The leadership that ruled Prague in the past election period was successful and should have a chance to continue. I believe that eventually a coalition will be formed that will copy the government arrangement. The question is whether with or without the Prague movement. But I firmly believe that TOGETHER will not join with YES. This would be completely against what the TOGETHER coalition announced before the election.
The ODS won the elections in Prague 8 with a gain of 19.28 percent and 10 mandates. ANO finished in second place with 17.98 percent and in third place 8ŽIJE and PRAHA SOBĚ, which had 17.03 percent. Both have 9 mandates each. Fourth place was taken by the Pirates with 11.59 percent and a gain of 6 mandates. Together for Prague 8 with 11.18 percent and 5 mandates. Patriots for Praha 8 and SPD and Trikolora for Osmička still got into the council. Both have three mandates each.