The Czech Republic and Poland are violating EU law by preventing foreign nationals from other EU countries from joining political parties, the European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday.
The European Commission filed lawsuits against both countries, arguing that their restrictions limit the ability of foreign nationals to stand as candidates in local and European elections on the same terms as Czech and Polish citizens.
Citizens of other EU member states can run as candidates in local and European elections but are not allowed to be members of political parties.
The European Commission took legal action against the Czech Republic and Poland in 2021, although it has been examining the situation in the Czech Republic since 2012.
In the Czech Republic, membership in political parties is governed by the Law on Associations in Political Parties and Political Movements, which limits the right to party membership to Czech citizens only. The Ombudsman also expressed concern on this matter in 2014.
