MP Pražák quits the ANO movement after 11 years of membership

Pražák, a 47-year-old member of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, has announced that he is leaving Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement. He had been a member for eleven years. In his statement, the lawmaker did not give a reason for leaving.

He made the decision public on Facebook. In his words, it had been maturing for quite some time. Pražák stressed that he is not leaving in order to criticize the movement: he thanked it for the experience, the support and everything those years gave him, and apologized to anyone he lets down. He believes the friendships formed during that time will last even without a party card.

What comes next and how people reacted

As an independent MP, Pražák intends to keep working for the people of his region, Semily and the Liberec Region. In the comments under the post, his former supporters were divided: many praise him for the decision, but quite a few criticize him. They point out that he entered the Chamber precisely on the ANO ticket and argue that he should give up his seat, or else he will have betrayed his voters. Some commenters expressed themselves more harshly.

Newly elected members of the Semily town council, who were elected on the ANO Semily ticket, are leaving ANO along with Pražák. According to Pražák, they are leaving the movement “after mature consideration” and will start the new term on the council as independents. He himself is apparently set to become the town’s mayor, combining the post with another job.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz