Dawn of Direct Democracy

Dawn of Direct Democracy
Leader Tomio Okamura
Founded 13 June 2013
Headquarters Papírenská 6B, 160 00 Prague 6
Membership 9 [1]
Ideology Populism[2][3][4]
Direct democracy
Euroscepticism
Political position Right-wing[5]
Chamber of Deputies
14 / 200
Senate
0 / 81
European Parliament
0 / 22
Regional councils
0 / 675
Local councils
53 / 62,300
Website
http://www.hnutiusvit.cz/
Politics of the Czech Republic
Political parties
Elections

Dawn of Direct Democracy (Czech: Úsvit přímé demokracie, short Dawn, Úsvit) is a populist[2][3][4] and right-wing[5] political party in the Czech Republic.

The party was founded in May 2013 by Tomio Okamura,[6][7] independent senator attached to the Christian Democratic parliamentary group. Dawn favours the implementation of direct democracy at all levels "as a solution to the corruption, nepotism, clientelism and kleptocracy,"[8] the use of referenda, the direct election of deputies, senators, mayors and regional governors, a presidential system and, consequently, a stronger separation of powers.[9][10][11] In the electoral campaign, Dawn was noted for its appeal to anti-Roma sentiments, with Okamura asking the Roma to leave the Czech Republic and to found their own state.[12][13]

Dawn candidates include members of Public Affairs,[14][15] a former member of the Civic Democratic Party,[16] and a representative of Moravané.[17]

In the parliamentary election of 2013 the party obtained 342 339 votes (6.88%) and gained 14 seats.

In February 2015, the majority of the nine members of the party, as well as most of the 14 members of the Dawn deputy group decided to establish a new party, independent on the current leader of the Dawn, Tomio Okamura.[18][19] On 26 February 2015, Okamura announced that the party's finance is in shambles. After the successful election, the Dawn of Direct Democracy annually receive millions of Czech crowns by the state.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Martínek, Jan. "Stranám utíkají i vymírají členové po tisících". Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Czech elections: An angry electorate", The Economist, 25 October 2013
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jan Richter (26 October 2013), "Czech general elections yield no obvious coalition", Radio Prague
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sme: Okamura's politics is social, national populism", Prague Daily Monitor, 26 October 2013
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Parties and Elections in Europe, "Czech Republic", The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck". Parties & Elections. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Malé strany zažívají před volbami boom. K Babišovi i Okamurovi vstupují tisíce lidí". Politika. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  7. ↑ ČTK. "Okamura žádá o registraci hnutí Úsvit přímé demokracie -". Aktualne. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "A Czech election with consequences". openDemocracy. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ministerstvo zaregistrovalo hnutí Úsvit přímé demokracie". Úsvit Přímé Demokracie Tomia Okamury. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Okamura bude volebním lídrem svého Úsvitu ve středních Čechách". CeskeNovinydate=6 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Uploads Hnutiusvit
  12. ↑ Haughton, Tim; Novotna, Tereza; Deegan-Krause, Kevin (30 October 2013), "The Czech paradox: Did the winner lose and the losers win?", The Washington Post
  13. ↑ Crane, Jonathan (25 October 2013), "Entrepreneur touts power to the people as cure for Czech ills", The Japan Times
  14. ↑ "News". Radio Prague. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "News". Radio Prague. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Ing. Radim Fiala Úsvit Přímé Demokracie Tomia Okamury". Hnutiusvit. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Moravané půjdou do voleb s hnutím Úsvit Tomia Okamury". iDNES. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Puč dokonán dle Okamury, Úsvit odsouhlasil novou stranu" (in Czech). Czech Television. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "Okamura cries ‘putsch!’". Prague Post. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  20. ↑ Lang, Václav (26 February 2015). "Úsvit je v minusu, přiznal Okamura. Odstoupit nehodlá" (in Czech). novinky.cz. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

External links