Czech authorities are moving to strip Tomio Okamura, leader of the right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, of his parliamentary immunity following accusations of inciting racial hatred. The controversy stems from an inflammatory billboard campaign launched ahead of last year’s regional elections.
Prague police, with backing from district prosecutor Jan Lelek, formally submitted their request to the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday. Police spokesman Jan Daněk confirmed the criminal proceedings began in August, with the official request now in the hands of the Speaker of the Chamber, who will forward it to the parliamentary mandate and immunity committee for review.
The billboards, prominently displayed in Prague’s Wenceslas Square, featured provocative imagery. One showed an African migrant holding a bloody knife with the caption: “Healthcare shortfalls won’t be solved by imported ‘surgeons.’” Another ad targeting Roma communities also sparked outrage. Critics accused the SPD of fearmongering and promoting racist narratives, charges the party staunchly denies.
Prague’s municipality stated that while the SPD secured permission to use public spaces for election filming, it had not disclosed the full extent of the campaign’s content or affiliation. The SPD, however, claims it operated transparently and obtained all necessary approvals.
Tomio Okamura has firmly defended the billboards, arguing they reflect legitimate concerns about migration policies. He pointed to the European Union’s migration pact, which mandates member states to accept migrant quotas or face fines, as a dire threat to Czech sovereignty.
“The SPD movement has been saying consistently and clearly since its inception that the presence of Muslim and African migrants in Europe is literally a ticking time bomb for our society and civilization,” Okamura declared.
Describing the billboards as allegorical warnings, he insisted they highlight the dangers of uncontrolled migration, citing statistics on crimes committed by foreign nationals. Okamura also suggested the criminal complaints against him were politically motivated, intended to harm the SPD’s reputation ahead of parliamentary elections.
The case now rests with the parliamentary mandate and immunity committee. If the Chamber of Deputies votes to lift Okamura’s immunity, prosecutors could press formal charges of incitement, a crime punishable under Czech law with potential prison time.
As the debate intensifies, the SPD leader remains defiant, portraying the billboards as a wake-up call for the Czech Republic while critics continue to decry them as divisive and incendiary. The outcome will likely shape the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.
