SPD leader in Prague tells voters about the party's promises

The SPD movement, which entered the Czech government for the first time last year, is hoping to establish itself in Prague politics too: the party's list for the capital's municipal elections is headed by architect and urban planner Milan Urban, who is serving his third term on the city council and handles housing and energy policy for SPD.

Four years ago, in the previous municipal elections, SPD — running in coalition with Trikolora, the PES movement and independent candidates — won 5.2% of the vote in Prague and took three of the 65 seats on the city council. This time the list is again led by Urban, now allied with Trikolora, PRO, Přísaha and independent candidates.

Urban's experience in Prague politics goes back further than SPD's own history in the capital. Back in 2006 he was elected to the city council for the SNK “European Democrats” party, and from 2011 to 2014, representing TOP 09, he served as deputy chair of Prague's committee for territorial development. He has also previously chaired the supervisory board of the company Pražská plynárenská.

Ahead of the start of the election campaign, Urban said: “Our job is to shield Prague residents from the mischief that progressives cause out of spite. We want a Prague that is free, prosperous for its own residents, clean, cheerful and safe.”

In the interview, Urban was also asked how SPD proposes to tackle Prague's main problems, which parties the movement is willing to form a coalition with, and who it intends to replace Ukrainian workers with — workers it has repeatedly tried to have expelled from the country.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz