Court resubmits request to lift SPD leader’s parliamentary immunity

The court has once again asked the Czech Chamber of Deputies to lift the parliamentary immunity of Tomio Okamura, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, so that he may face criminal prosecution. Police accuse Okamura and his party of inciting hatred through the distribution of posters with racist or xenophobic undertones.

The outgoing Chamber approved Okamura’s prosecution in February, after which police formally charged him. In early August, the state prosecutor filed an indictment. The case was assigned to the District Court for Prague 1, but before the court could rule, the October elections granted Okamura a renewed parliamentary mandate and new immunity.

Alongside Okamura, the SPD movement itself has been indicted as a legal entity. According to sources, the prosecutor is not seeking a ban on the party’s activities or prison time for its leader, but rather an alternative penalty—likely a suspended sentence or a financial fine.

On Tuesday, Okamura stated that if his party were to gain control of the Interior Ministry in a future government, he would move to replace the current Police President, Martin Vondrášek.