Pirates choose chairman Zdeněk Hřib as election leader

The Pirate Party has elected its chairman, Zdeněk Hřib, to lead them in the autumn parliamentary elections. Party members chose him on Saturday at a national forum in Zlín, favoring him over Senator Adéla Šípová. Mr. Hřib, who plans to run in Prague, where he is deputy mayor, won 492 out of 643 votes.

The Pirate chairman said the party will focus on affordable housing, lowering the cost of living, and modernizing the state. He aims for a double-digit result, similar to 2017, when the party won 22 seats. In 2021, running in coalition with the Mayors and Independents, they secured only four. Recent polls suggest they are below 10%.

Mr. Hřib ruled out post-election cooperation with Freedom and Direct Democracy, the Communist Party, and anyone facing criminal prosecution.