Czech Republic initiates resignation of parliament speaker over anti-Ukrainian New Year's speech

The Speaker of the Czech lower house of parliament, Tomio Okamura, delivered a New Year's speech in which he criticized Ukraine and opposed the provision of weapons to it. The speech was publicly condemned by Ukraine's Ambassador to the Czech Republic Vasyl Zvarych and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybigaand opposition parties announced their intention to collect signatures for a vote on his dismissal.

How to reports in his New Year's address, Okamura called the Russian-Ukrainian war "absolutely senseless", according to the Cesce Novyny portal. He argued that the Czech Republic should not send weapons to Ukraine.

"The money pipes are running in all directions, and everyone is breaking something in business. Western companies, governments, and Ukrainian thieves around the Zelensky junta are building toilets out of gold. Let them steal, but not from us, and let such a country not be in the European Union," he said.

Zvarych saidthe Ukrainian diplomat said that Okamura's offensive and hateful statements against Ukraine and Ukrainians are his personal position, formed under the influence of Russian propaganda. The diplomatic representative called these statements unacceptable and contrary to the values of a democratic society.

Siberia supported ambassador's position, noting that Ukrainian diplomats must defend the dignity of Ukraine, and called for a constructive dialogue to strengthen the Ukrainian-Czech strategic partnership.

Amid the scandal, the leaders of the former government coalition – ODS, STAN, Pirates, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 – want to hold a vote on Okamura's dismissal from the post of Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.

"Together with other opposition parties, next week the Pirates will start collecting the signatures necessary to discuss his resignation in the Chamber of Deputies," said Pirates party chairman Zdenek Grzyb.

According to the rules of procedure, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies can be removed from office only on the basis of a written petition signed by at least two-fifths of the total number of deputies. In order to implement this procedure, opposition parties need to collect signatures of at least 80 of their 92 representatives.

• Stefanchuk characterized okamura's speech as "an example of ignorance, manipulation and cynicism". He added that these statements are the personal opinion of the politician, not the position of the parliament or the Czech people.