Freedom and Direct Democracy
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:48:30 PM Wikipedia source
Freedom and Direct Democracy (Czech: Svoboda a přímá demokracie, SPD) is a far-right political party in the Czech Republic. It is led by Tomio Okamura and it holds 10 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Its political positions can be described as nationalist and neo-fascist, espousing right-wing populism, expressing opposition to immigration, and being staunchly Eurosceptic, while in their political program they state their support for direct democracy. At the end of 2022, the party had 10,682 members and was the fastest-growing party in the country in terms of members.
Infobox
Abbreviation
SPD
Leader
Tomio Okamura
Deputy Leaders
Radim FialaIvan DavidRadek RozvoralRadovan Vích
Founded
5 May 2015; 10 years ago (2015-05-05)
Split from
Dawn of Direct Democracy
Headquarters
Rytířská 6, Prague
Newspaper
Na vlastní oči
Youth wing
Mladí Espéďáci
Membership (2022)
10,682
Ideology
mw- Right-wing populismNationalismAnti-immigrationHard EuroscepticismNeo-fascism
Political position
Far-right
National affiliation
SPD–Tricolour–Svobodní–PRO
European affiliation
ID Party (2015–2024)ESN Party (since 2024)
European Parliament group
ID Group (2019–2024)ESN Group (since 2024)
Colours
mw- Blue
Chamber of Deputies
15 / 200
Senate
0 / 81
European Parliament
1 / 21
Regional councils
35 / 675
Governors of the regions
0 / 13
Local councils
492 / 62,300
Tables
· Election results › Chamber of Deputies
2017
2017
Election
2017
Leader
Tomio Okamura
Votes
538,574
%
10.64
Seats
22 / 200
+/–
14
Position
4th
Status
Opposition
2021
2021
Election
2021
Leader
513,910
Votes
9.56
%
20 / 200
Seats
2
+/–
4th
Position
Opposition
2025
2025
Election
2025
Leader
437,611
Votes
7.78
%
15 / 200
Seats
5
+/–
5th
Position
ANO–SPD–AUTO
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
| 2017 | Tomio Okamura | 538,574 | 10.64 | 22 / 200 | 14 | 4th | Opposition |
| 2021 | 513,910 | 9.56 | 20 / 200 | 2 | 4th | Opposition | |
| 2025 | 437,611 | 7.78 | 15 / 200 | 5 | 5th | ANO–SPD–AUTO |
· Election results › Senate
Votes
Votes
Election
Votes
First round
%
First round
Place
First round
Votes
Second round
%
Second round
Place
2016
2016
Election
2016
First round
5,988
First round
0.68
First round
20th
Second round
0 / 27
Second round
2018
2018
Election
2018
First round
70,110
First round
6.44
First round
7th
Second round
0 / 27
Second round
2020
2020
Election
2020
First round
61,352
First round
6.15
First round
7th
Second round
0 / 27
Second round
2022
2022
Election
2022
First round
85,855
First round
7.72
First round
4th
Second round
2,791
Second round
0.58
Second round
15th
Seats
0 / 27
+/–
2024
2024
Election
2024
First round
42,733
First round
5.39
First round
6th
Second round
3,318
Second round
0.85
Second round
11th
Seats
0 / 27
+/–
| Election | First round | Second round | Seats | +/– | ||||
| Votes | % | Place | Votes | % | Place | |||
| 2016 | 5,988 | 0.68 | 20th | 0 / 27 | | |||
| 2018 | 70,110 | 6.44 | 7th | 0 / 27 | | |||
| 2020 | 61,352 | 6.15 | 7th | 0 / 27 | | |||
| 2022 | 85,855 | 7.72 | 4th | 2,791 | 0.58 | 15th | 0 / 27 | |
| 2024 | 42,733 | 5.39 | 6th | 3,318 | 0.85 | 11th | 0 / 27 | |
· Election results › Presidency
Votes
Votes
Election
Votes
Candidate
%
Candidate
Result
First round
Votes
First round
%
First round
Result
2018
2018
Election
2018
Candidate
Supported Miloš Zeman
First round
1,985,547
First round
38.56
First round
First place
Second round
2,853,390
Second round
51.37
Second round
Won
2023
2023
Election
2023
Candidate
Jaroslav Bašta
First round
248,375
First round
4.45
First round
Fifth place
| Election | Candidate | First round | Second round | |||||
| Votes | % | Result | Votes | % | Result | |||
| 2018 | Supported Miloš Zeman | 1,985,547 | 38.56 | First place | 2,853,390 | 51.37 | Won | |
| 2023 | Jaroslav Bašta | 248,375 | 4.45 | Fifth place | ||||
· Election results › European Parliament
2019
2019
Election
2019
List leader
Ivan David
Votes
216,718
%
9.14 (#5)
Seats
2 / 21
+/−
New
EP Group
ID
2024
2024
Election
2024
List leader
Petr Mach
Votes
170,172
%
5.73 (#7)
Seats
1 / 21
+/−
1
EP Group
ESN
| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group |
| 2019 | Ivan David | 216,718 | 9.14 (#5) | 2 / 21 | New | ID |
| 2024 | Petr Mach | 170,172 | 5.73 (#7) | 1 / 21 | 1 | ESN |
· Election results › Regional councils
2016
2016
Election
2016
Vote
153,099
%
5.7
Seats
18 / 675
+/–
18
Position
6th
2020
2020
Election
2020
Vote
169,978
%
6.1
Seats
35 / 675
+/–
17
Position
5th
| Election | Vote | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
| 2016 | 153,099 | 5.7 | 18 / 675 | 18 | 6th |
| 2020 | 169,978 | 6.1 | 35 / 675 | 17 | 5th |
· Election results › Local
2018
2018
Election
2018
Councillors
155 / 61,892
| Election | % | Councillors |
| 2018 | 155 / 61,892 |
· Election results › Prague City Assembly
2018
2018
Election
2018
Leader
Hynek Beran
Votes
895,859
%
3.54
Seats
0 / 65
+/–
Position
6th
Status
Opposition
2022
2022
Election
2022
Leader
Milan Urban
Votes
1 218, 622
%
5.17
Seats
3 / 65
+/–
3
Position
6th
Status
Opposition
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
| 2018 | Hynek Beran | 895,859 | 3.54 | 0 / 65 | | 6th | Opposition |
| 2022 | Milan Urban | 1 218, 622 | 5.17 | 3 / 65 | 3 | 6th | Opposition |
References
- Run in a joint list with Tricolour.
- Participated in coalition with Party of Civic Rights
- "Seznam politických stran a hnutí"http://aplikace.mvcr.cz/seznam-politickych-stran/Vypis_Rejstrik.aspx?id=468
- spd.czhttp://www.spd.cz/novinky/tomio-okamura-prvni-cislo-novych-novin-spd-na-vlastni-oci
- Novinky.czhttps://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-nejvic-pribylo-clenu-spd-pada-ods-40435925
- Deutsche Welle (DW)https://www.dw.com/en/czechia-opposition-leader-eyes-state-control-of-public-media/a-71603682
- "European Election Watch Czech Republic"https://web.archive.org/web/20220104035707/https://www.csis.org/programs/european-election-watch/czech-republic
- Parties and Elections in Europehttp://www.parties-and-elections.eu/czechia.html
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- Deník Nhttps://denikn.cz/minuta/1786128/
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- "Czech voters stick to familiar choices as election campaign begins"https://english.radio.cz/czech-voters-stick-familiar-choices-election-campaign-begins-8851259
- Radio Praguehttp://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/okamura-registers-new-anti-immigrant-party-freedom-and-direct-democracy
- Radio Praguehttps://english.radio.cz/okamura-tells-daily-freedom-and-direct-democracy-party-wants-be-part-coalition-8178663
- International Political Science Reviewhttp://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0192512115577231
- Le Monde diplomatiquehttps://mondediplo.com/2018/04/07eastern-europe
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- Echo24https://www.echo24.cz/a/HvLFL/zpravy-domaci-spd-nova-frakce-v-ep-evropa-suverennich-narodu-esn-afd
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-election-farright/far-right-scores-surprise-success-in-czech-election-idUSKBN1CQ0T3
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/19/far-right-czech-election-kingmaker-calls-referendum-eu-membership/
- openDemocracyhttps://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/michal-simecka/babi-czech-republic-too-thin-gruel
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- Reporting Democracyhttps://balkaninsight.com/2025/05/13/dysfunctional-parliament-exemplifies-czechias-toxic-and-polarised-politics/
- Friedrich Naumann Foundationhttps://www.freiheit.org/central-europe-and-baltic-states/35-years-after-velvet-revolution-reflection-democracy-and-its
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- Radio Prague Internationalhttps://english.radio.cz/jiri-pehe-czechia-must-be-ready-a-more-intense-hybrid-war-russia-8844535
- euronews.comhttps://www.euronews.com/2021/10/08/czexit-what-chance-of-a-referendum-on-the-czech-republic-quitting-the-eu
- Euractivhttps://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/tokyo-born-czech-nationalist-revives-czexit-ahead-of-national-election/
- Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)https://www.fpri.org/article/2025/07/czech-republic-faces-pressing-security-challenges-ahead-of-parliamentary-elections/
- Politics of Hybrid Warfare The Remaking of Security in Czechia After 2014https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Politics_of_Hybrid_Warfare/kwfHEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22far-right+Freedom+and+Direct+Democracy%22&pg=PA9&printsec=frontcover
- Crises and Challenges for the European Unionhttps://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Crises_and_Challenges_for_the_European_U/zE7eEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
- Who Governs Europehttps://whogoverns.eu/the-czech-republic-finally-has-a-new-government-it-has-a-prosecuted-populist-prime-minister-and-is-supported-by-the-communists/
- Le Monde diplomatiquehttps://mondediplo.com/2018/04/07eastern-europe
- Freedom and Direct Democracyhttp://spd.cz/rozhovor-tomia-okamury-eurozpravy-cz/
- Czech Radiohttp://www.rozhlas.cz/zpravy/politika/_zprava/okamura-a-fiala-skoncili-v-hnuti-usvit-zakladaji-novou-stranu--1486492
- Czech Televisionhttps://web.archive.org/web/20151009205616/https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096898594-udalosti-komentare/4322-rekli-v-udalostech-komentarich/?strana=4
- Parlamentni Listyhttp://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/arena/monitor/Tomio-Okamura-svolal-vsechny-sve-lidi-a-bylo-rusno-Nepratelsti-vetrelci-Pokus-o-vrazdu-Delegace-od-Marine-Le-Pen-i-provolani-k-Zemanovi-412586
- "Marine Le Pen supports Tomio Okamura, President of the SPD, member of the MENF"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QM5QkCyQzM
- Radio Praguehttp://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/le-pen-to-appear-at-december-event-with-okamura-in-prague
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- HlídacíPes.orghttps://hlidacipes.org/spd-ma-vlastni-politickou-neziskovku-chce-s-ni-rozvijet-demokracii-a-podporovat-vlastence/
- forum24.czhttps://www.forum24.cz/blasko-odesel-z-spd-holedbate-se-demokracii-ale-realita-je-zcela-odlisna-napsal-okamurovi/
- Aktualne.czhttps://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/hnuti-spd-bude-v-ep-soucasti-nove-frakce-evropa-suverennich/r~ca050188354411efb689ac1f6b220ee8/
- Hospodárske novinyhttps://zahranicni.hn.cz/c1-67338770-bdquo-ze-jsou-oznacovani-za-nacky-mne-jsou-blizci-ldquo-spd-v-europarlamentu-miri-do-frakce-vedene-afd
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- Studentské listyhttps://slisty.cz/okamurovi-mladeznici-startuji-na-socialnich-sitich-rychle-rostou/
- Insta Zprávyhttps://instazpravy.cz/kraska-ze-superstar-nataci-klipy-pro-spd-stala-se-tvari-jejich-mladeznicke-organizace/
- forum24.czhttps://www.forum24.cz/vrchni-cenzor-tomio-okamura-najednou-bojuje-za-svobodu-slova/
- iDNES.czhttps://www.idnes.cz/volby/komunalni-volby-senat-predvolebni-klipy.A180918_134500_domaci_bja
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- Hospodářské noviny (HN.cz)https://archiv.hn.cz/c1-65977430-ceskeho-slavika-dobehly-jeho-metody
- Freedom and Direct Democracyhttps://www.spd.cz/program-vypis/
- "Jak Okamurovo hnutí vnímají jeho politici? SPD chce být národně konzervativní, pravolevé dělení neřeší"https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/spd-tomio-okamura-radim-fiala-stranicky-kompas-irozhlas_2310300500_jgr
- Týdeník Respekthttps://www.respekt.cz/podcast/spd-lze-oznacit-za-parlamentni-fasisticke-hnuti-proc-soud-smetl-okamurovu-zalobu-na-respekt
- "Czech court rules it is proportionate for "Tomio Okamura's Freedom and Direct Democracy" to be called fascist, verdict has taken effect"https://romea.cz/en/czech-republic/czech-court-rules-it-is-proportionate-for-tomio-okamuras-freedom-and-direct-democracy-to-be-called-fascist-verdict-has-taken-effect
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- Freedom and Direct Democracyhttps://www.spd.cz/program-vypis/#7279
- "Czech far-right leader Tomio Okamura urges citizens to walk pigs near mosques to defend country from Islam"http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/czech-far-right-leader-tomio-okamura-urges-citizens-walk-pigs-near-mosques-defend-country-islam-1481888
- Euractivehttps://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/far-right-leaders-gather-in-prague-ahead-of-eu-vote/
- Euractivehttps://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/in-prague-europes-far-right-celebrates-the-austrian-coalition/
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-election-farright/far-right-scores-surprise-success-in-czech-election-idUSKBN1CQ0T3
- Aktuálně.czhttps://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/snemovna-okamura-cernochova-izrael/r~966d59be7a3811ee8980ac1f6b220ee8/
- Novinky.czhttps://www.novinky.cz/clanek/podcasty-politalk-okamura-ukrajinci-jsou-nackove-a-to-je-jeste-jemne-slovo-40466692
- Al Jazeerahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/4/populist-billionaire-andrej-babiss-party-set-to-win-czech-election
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/30/will-pivotal-election-turn-czech-republic-into-another-anti-eu-agitator
- Financial Timeshttps://www.ft.com/content/a1660d2a-b525-4276-9275-c2dcc6e9a8fa
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/milos-zeman-ap-prague-christian-democrats-western-europe-b2095760.html
- Balkan Insighthttps://balkaninsight.com/2020/07/17/democratic-digest-extremism-free-media-and-lgbt-rights/
- Euro.czhttps://www.euro.cz/volby-2017/okamura-chce-s-spd-do-vlady-podminkou-je-pro-nej-zakon-o-referendu-1376425
- Novinky.czhttps://www.novinky.cz/domaci/462842-nove-straniky-tahne-do-partaji-volebni-uspech-i-propad.html
- "Okamura zítra obhajuje post šéfa SPD"https://www.pressreader.com/czech-republic/mf-dnes/20180713/281603831234785