Opposition to government policies, government cuts and government
Thirty, forty or seventy? You can’t count it exactly, but it was a lot. Opposition to government policy, government cuts and the government as such managed to bring a number of citizens of this country to Wenceslas Square recently. At least enough so that, regardless of their political beliefs, possible political affiliation and different opinions on many things, they come or will come to the center of Prague. Women, men, young and old, farmers and non-farmers. Large anti-government demonstrations in the last two years. Apart from the government, the strongest reservations were directed at the media and their “objective” information and at the address of political parties. All of them. For their political practices, which do not inspire hope in a large part of society for systemic solutions to the current political and economic crisis.
The prime minister’s contemptuous words
The Cabinet did not take these demonstrations to heart. Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s contemptuous words were an accurate picture of the government’s reaction. All the so-called mainstream media behaved similarly uneducated. Television, radio, newspapers. As if this dissatisfaction did not concern them. In the previous regime, a popular joke was that the leadership was fine – only the citizens needed to be replaced!
So the last hope remained. That at least the political parties that protect the interests of the citizens and appeal to them will try to follow up on the successful demonstrations of the common attitude of the people. It could be assumed that he would choose the ideal date for this – May 1.
Little May 1 without public participation
However, that did not happen. Instead of at least the political parties that consider work as the basis of society’s success to be able to unite in a joint effort to correct the reckless government policy, they organized their own little May 1st. At these small events in May, they convinced the convinced, i.e. their own members. These meetings took place almost without the participation of the public. To the joy of the media, which did not have to deal with these private celebrations of something that is intrinsically distant from them.
Political parties once again failed to overcome partial differences
However, this time it would not be fair to blame the media. Political parties lost a great chance by their reluctance and inability to overcome partial contradictions. Of course, this does not mean much, but the question is whether the dissatisfied public will give them another chance. The atmosphere on Wenceslas Square does not give much indication of this.
May 1st is not a joyous celebration of work effort
May Day is neither the spontaneous celebration of work achievements nor the joyous celebration of work effort that it once was. Since its inception, it has been dedicated to the solidarity of workers, to the fight for improving their position in society. Improving their material conditions. It seems to me that these are sufficient reasons why, together with the vast majority of countries around the world, Czech political parties should actively use this traditional day to express their attitudes towards the government and government policy. This is the only way they could gradually rehabilitate themselves in the eyes of the public and win back the already almost lost right to stand at the head of society, at the head of its dissatisfied majority.
I have no illusions that after reading this article something will move in the leadership of the parties. I just hope that at least some politicians will try to look at their role a little differently. With a lesser sense of satisfaction from the successful organization of the event, which certainly did not surpass any of the political parties in its importance.
JUDr. Petr Lachnit (YES 2011),
representative of the Municipal Council of Prague 5
