Foreign flags on state buildings are causing political tensions in the Czech Republic. A recent survey shows that 70 per cent of Czechs are opposed to foreign countries’ flags being flown on state buildings. At the beginning of November, the new Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura (SPD), had the Ukrainian flag removed from the building – triggering fresh discussions.
A clear majority of people in the Czech Republic reject the flying of foreign national flags on public buildings. This is shown by a recent survey conducted by the NMS agency on behalf of Czech Radio (Český rozhlas). More than 70 per cent of respondents oppose foreign flags being hoisted on state buildings.
However, this does not mean that only the Czech flag may be displayed there. Nearly 40 per cent of Czechs want only the national flag on public buildings. Around one third prefer a combination of the Czech flag and the flag of the European Union. Only about one quarter of respondents support the flying of additional foreign flags, such as the Ukrainian flag currently displayed in some places.
The view that only the Czech flag should be flown is strongest among voters of the right-wing SPD – around 74 per cent. Supporters of ANO waver between flying solely the national flag and displaying it alongside the EU flag, while flying flags of other countries finds little approval among them. Supporters of Motoristé sobě express a similar stance.
The picture is quite different, according to the news broadcaster, among voters of Spolu, STAN and the Pirates: among Spolu and Pirate voters, six out of ten respondents support the flying of additional flags, while among STAN voters it is just under half.
New Debate After the Removal of the Ukrainian Flag from the Chamber of Deputies
The decision by the new Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Tomio Okamura (SPD), to have the Ukrainian flag removed from the façade of the Chamber at the beginning of November sparked further debate. Less than a day after his election, the flag had disappeared – a step Okamura had promised his voters before the election.
The right-wing politician was elected as the new Speaker with the votes of ANO, SPD and Motoristé sobě. Okamura’s election is part of the coalition agreement, which also provides for the formation of a new government under Andrej Babiš.
