Culture Minister Ota Klempíř of the Motorist party appeared on a podcast where he described his parliamentary group as fighters trying hard in parliament and defended plans to fund Czech Television and Radio from the state budget rather than license fees.
Klempíř told host Thomas Kulidakis that Motorists are not typical politicians but a special group of fighters, contrasting them with what he called “lepšolidí” from Prague cafes. He recalled a past campaign slogan: “We are your garage, not a cafe.”
The minister said he devised a new campaign concept with his wife: “Vote for the Motorists, nobody will find out.” He stressed he did not enter politics for money and views politics as a tough fight, not a game.
Regarding public broadcasting, Klempíř said the coalition does not seek to control, bankrupt, or destroy Czech Television or Radio. He emphasized they want normal functioning media funded by the state budget and supervised by the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ), calling the issue a minefield they aim to clear.
He added that he wants to find funding for culture and live arts, acknowledging the need to save money while not destroying Czech culture.
Critics question Klempíř’s competence and communication with the cultural sector. Reflex.cz reports he and Jaromír Zůna are among ministers most speculated about for replacement, despite the Motorist leader denying any reshuffle. Sources say even Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is losing patience due to Klempíř’s alleged inefficiency and poor outreach.
The controversy stems partly from Klempíř’s past. In the 1980s, he collaborated with State Security under the codename Olda, filing a 120-page dossier that included denunciations of twenty punk musicians. His nomination as culture minister sparked petitions and protests from hundreds of public figures over this history.
Trust in Klempíř further weakened after a January meeting with Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová of the Slovak National Party, where he said they were renewing frozen relations, a move viewed skeptically by parts of the Czech cultural community.
Separately, Novinky.cz reported that hundreds gathered on Hradčanské náměstí in front of Prague Castle on a Sunday afternoon to protest how Motorist representatives manage the Ministry of the Environment, expressing dissent over environmental policy.
Why does Klempíř want to change how Czech Television is funded?
He argues the coalition aims to align with European countries that fund public media through the state budget instead of license fees, seeking normal operation under audit supervision rather than political control.
What past actions of Klempíř have caused controversy?
His collaboration with State Security in the 1980s as an informant, including denouncing punk musicians, and his 2021 act of burning a political letter labeled as coming from the “kingdom of washing machines” have fueled criticism.
