Forty or more political parties and mouvements have submitted lists of candidates for the EU elections in the Czech Republic.
The elections will take place on May 24–25. After an accurate evaluation of the legal document the Interior Ministry will decide on the final registration of the lists on April 6.
Although the country has only 21 seats in the European Parliament, multiparty participation in the Czech Republic is not a surprise. Fourteen parties run in the previous EU elections in 2014.
According to Radio Prague TOP 09 -an EPP member led by MEP Jiří Pospíšil– and Mayors and Independents (STAN) will form a coalition.
Two new political parties, both pro-EU, led by MEPs run for the first time. The Europe Together (Evropa společně, ESO), run by MEP Jaromír Štětina, and the liberal Voice (Hlas), run by MEP Pavel Telička.
According to recent polls Prime Minister’s ANO enjoys the most support, at 26%, followed by the conservative Civic Democrats (ODS) an ECR member at 16%, the Pirates at 11.5%, the Communist KSČM at 8%, the Social Democrats (ČSSD) at 7.5% and the TOP 09–STAN coalition at 7.5%.
The far-right SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy) of Tomio Okamura, an ally of Marine Le Pen and Matteo Salvini, has less than 5%.
Voter turnout is expected to be low (around 30%). However there is a precedent. In 2014 elections only 18.2% of the population participated in the elections for the European Parliament.
