Lost In Its Own History

The Industrial Power of the 1980s Keeps the Ecological Policy In the Czech Republic At Bay

6 October 2021

Albin Sybera

Contributing Editor

Post-1989 property transfers gave way to the new generation of industrialists accumulating immense wealth and influence over Czech politics. The green transformation of the Czech energy sector is repeating the same mistakes of the late 20th century when business and politics was hard to separate.

Many commentators are referring to Czechia’s general election in October as the most important vote the country will have since the end of the communist era in November 1989 with implications for all sectors including energy.

Naturally, many of these voices are pointing to the populist figure of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who together with the country’s pro-Russian President Miloš Zeman, has come to epitomise Czech populism and democratic backsliding. 

Unlike in the case of Hungary or Poland, where illiberal tendencies are identified primarily with the large parties of Fidesz and Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS) and their grip on power in the two countries, Czech populist politics does not have an uncontested hegemonic force. 

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Albin Sybera

Contributing Editor

Contributing Editor. Albin is a freelance journalist, consultant and a former clerk at the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic. Besides Visegrad Insight, his texts can be also found at Britské listy or Balkan Insight and he is also a news reporter covering Czechia and Slovakia at bne IntelliNews.

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