Okamura registers new anti-immigrant party Freedom and Direct Democracy

Populist senator Tomio Okamura has registered a new political party named Freedom and Direct Democracy (Svoboda a přímá demokracie in Czech) after being sidelined in his previous grouping Dawn. Speaking at the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Okamura said his party was in favour of a Czech exit from the European Union and would push for a “zero tolerance” policy on immigrants. Freedom and Direct Democracy are now accepting new members and will hold their first policy congress in September, the Czech-Japanese businessman said.