It almost seems like black humor, the style that is quite popular in the Czech Republic: Petr Macinka, leader of the party Motorists for Themselves, is currently close to becoming the new Environment Minister. In the Czech parliamentary election held in October, the party received almost 7% of the vote and holds 13 seats in the lower house. As the winner of the election, the populist party ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens), led by billionaire Andrej Babiš, has invited them into the government along with the far-right SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy), so they are on their way to controlling four ministries: foreign affairs, culture, environment, and a new one of sport and prevention. It would be an understatement to say that the Motorists is a controversial party, and therefore it was not surprising to see a wave of disagreement coming from activists and environmental organizations. Why is Babiš still negotiating with the Motorists even though they are making it more difficult to form a credible government? Why is it more crucial than ever to protect the Environment Ministry?
Before the elections, Babiš appealed to the voters to cast their ballots for ANO so they could create a one-party government. In the end, ANO received 34.5% of the vote, not enough to build a majority government on their own. Having a majority government is crucial for Babiš, not only so the government will be able to act, but probably also due to his personal interest. There will be a vote in Parliament on whether to strip Babiš of is immunity so he can be prosecuted in the Čapí hnízdo (Stork’s Nest) case, in which he is being sued for subsidy fraud. This is why he needs the Motorists party to be on his side, which gives them power.
It is almost certain that the Motorists party is going to govern the Environment Ministry. Why is that such an issue? The answer is easy to find in the Motorists’ ideological basis, rhetoric, and program:
“There is no such consensus among scientists [that humans have an influence on the climate], just as there is no climate crisis, as various people [politicians and activists] try to convince us.” – ZÁKLADNÍ IDEOVÁ VÝCHODISKA 2024 page 6.
“...[the] Green Deal has to be canceled... If I had the opportunity, the first thing I would do, to help cancel the Green Deal, is that I would denounce the Paris Agreement...” – Petr Macinka on the Green Deal before the elections to the lower house, Motoristé sobě YouTube channel, September 2025
Why does Macinka want to become the Environment Minister when he does not believe the climate is changing due to human activity? Let’s follow the money. He is connected to the coal oligarch Pavel Tykač, who is well known for his support (of 10 million CZK) to the Institute of former Czech President and Prime Minister Václav Klaus, who is also a prominent climate denier. For years, Macinka has been closely working with Klaus in his Institute and considers him his political “teacher”. Tykač has invested money in the mining of brown coal. He needs people in the government who are going to allow mining and deregulate protected areas to make his investment pay off.
Macinka has already claimed he is going to cancel the declaration of a new protected area called the Moravian Amazon on the country’s border with Austria and with Slovakia. The reason is clear: One of the donors of the Motorists’ party, František Fabičovič, a local businessman, has fought unsuccessfully against this protected area for years. He himself operates a hunting area directly in the territory of today’s protected area, which spoils his business. The party’s ties to the interests of major polluters are public knowledge.
The people have chosen their representatives by democratic vote. No one is arguing with the rightful results. The reason why the Czech public and NGOs are taking action is that there is clear evidence that the Environment Ministry under Macinka will rot. The Motorists’ party wants to set us back.
On 19 October, more than 5,000 people came to Prague Castle and asked President Petr Pavel and prime minister-designate Babiš to reconsider Macinka’s nomination. That makes it one of the largest demonstrations for the environment that has been held in Czech Republic since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Three days later, 1,000 people assembled in Brno, the country’s second-largest city, and asked for the same thing. This was possible thanks to movements such as Greenpeace, Re-set, Fridays for Future, Friends of the Earth, Animal Freedom, Universities for Climate, Grandparents for Climate, and others. Moreover, both demonstrations were attended by people who are not part of the environmental movement to demonstrate their care for nature. At least 750 experts and scientists signed an open letter to the President and the prime minister-designate naming the issue at hand. Petitions from students and citizens have gathered thousands of signatures. Czech people care for the environment - the Motorists do not. Does Babiš care? We will see.
