Pirates seek Okamura’s removal after overnight media funding clash

The opposition Pirates will seek to remove Tomio Okamura as speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies following the heated overnight debate on abolishing television and radio license fees.

Party leader Zdeněk Hřib announced the initiative Saturday, accusing Okamura of restricting public access and conducting proceedings unfairly. KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 said they would support the move, while STAN will discuss its position internally.

Okamura rejected the accusations, telling ČTK there was no point responding to the Pirates’ “lies, attacks, shouts and nonsense.” He said he was focused on delivering the program promised to his voters.

Under parliamentary rules, a written motion to dismiss the speaker requires signatures from at least two-fifths of all MPs—80 in the 200-member chamber.

The opposition holds 92 seats. The Pirates have 18 MPs, KDU-ČSL 16 and TOP 09 nine, giving the three parties currently backing the initiative 43 signatures if all their lawmakers participate.

STAN’s 22 MPs would bring that total to 65, still requiring support from ODS lawmakers to reach the threshold.

Even with enough signatures, removal would face the governing coalition’s majority. Previous opposition attempts to dismiss Okamura earlier this year were unsuccessful.

KDU-ČSL spokeswoman Iva Petrusová acknowledged that the initiative would probably be primarily a political gesture given the balance of power. She said the party believed Okamura repeatedly failed to separate his responsibilities as speaker from his role as SPD leader.

STAN leader Vít Rakušan criticized Okamura’s conduct but said his parliamentary group would first examine the overnight events before deciding its next steps.

In his announcement on X, Hřib argued that restrictions on citizens entering parliament represented an unacceptable intervention against civil society.

He cited Section 56 of the chamber’s rules, saying discussions of legislation concerning fees must be public. The Pirates contend there was no lawful basis for preventing access.

Hřib also accused Okamura of sidelining opposition deputy speakers, abandoning established arrangements for agreeing the agenda, and supporting restrictions on speeches and opposition-requested breaks.

The dispute follows Saturday’s 4:36 a.m. vote advancing the government’s public-media funding bill to its next stage. The coalition had unexpectedly prioritized the legislation Friday and imposed a fixed voting time.

Protests outside parliament continued overnight. Police prevented several dozen people from entering the building and separately detained a person who allegedly tried to throw a paving stone at it.

Inside, whistles interrupted proceedings from the public gallery shortly after 9 p.m. Police subsequently removed 10 people who were reportedly carrying a banner.

The chamber’s next sitting is scheduled for Nov. 3. Hřib said the Pirates intend to pursue Okamura’s dismissal when MPs reconvene.