The gatekeeper: The Czech parliament speaker's crucial role explained

As the newly formed Chamber of Deputies convenes this morning to elect its Speaker on Monday, lawmakers will decide not only who will lead the lower house but also who will become one of the most influential figures in Czech politics.

The post is expected to go to Tomio Okamura, leader of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. He was formally nominated by the new coalition of ANO, SPD, and the Motorists, as confirmed by ANO deputy leader Alena Schillerová. His main rival is Jan Bartošek of the KDU-ČSL party, part of the outgoing coalition.

KDU-CSL chairman Marek Výborný described Bartošek’s candidacy as a “gesture of responsibility in light of the record of Okamura.”

A far-right leader known for his anti-EU and anti-immigrant stance, Okamura represents a significant ideological shift in Czech politics and in the political tone of the Chamber of Deputies.

As the main face of the lower house abroad, the Speaker often meets foreign delegations and represents the parliament internationally.

Political commentator Jan Lipold writes in Seznam Zprávy that Okamura’s potential appointment poses a risk to the “pro-Western direction of the Czech Republic, democratic constitutional values, or even its sense of dignity.”

While the job might sound purely technical, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies is actually the gatekeeper of the entire legislative process.

This position is not only symbolic but intensely practical, granting the authority to decide what laws get discussed and when. This is a powerful tool that the new coalition could use to prioritize its legislative goals, which include stricter controls on immigration and a complete re-evaluation of the country’s approach to the EU’s Green Deal.

Think of the Speaker as the main office manager who oversees the workflow. When a new bill is introduced, the Speaker manages it, as mandated by the Chamber of Deputies' Rules of Procedure, sending it to the relevant working groups for discussion. The position organizes and manages the process by which laws are introduced, debated, and passed through parliament.

Once bills pass, it is the Speaker who formally signs them before they move to the Senate or the President for final approval.

The Speaker’s job also extends far beyond daily lawmaking. The role acts as a constitutional safeguard.

According to the Czech Constitution, the Speaker can intervene if key government positions are vacant, such as assisting in the selection of a new prime minister or even temporarily assuming duties if the President’s office is vacant.

Case in point: Former Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová actually assumed the role of head of state on March 9, 2023, for around 14 hours between the end of Miloš Zeman’s term and the inauguration of President Petr Pavel.

In moments of national ceremony, the Speaker’s role extends beyond daily politics and confirms their status as one of the country’s highest-ranking constitutional officials.

The officeholder is one of just seven official custodians who hold symbolic keys to the Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral, where the priceless Czech Crown Jewels are kept.

This centuries-old tradition places the Speaker in a small, select group of leaders (including the President and Prime Minister) entrusted with the nation’s most sacred symbols of statehood.

The ceremonial role adds another layer of significance to the election. Given that Okamura’s party advocates for reduced EU integration and stronger nationalist policies, his potential role as a custodian of the historical symbols of Czech statehood is viewed by critics as highly symbolic of the country’s political direction.