Prague, Dec 12 (CTK) – Roughly 1,000 people sang the national anthem at the beginning of a rally in support of President Milos Zeman in Prague’s center on Saturday.
The crowd was addressed by speakers claiming that Zeman is one of the few politicians to offer a solution to the refugee crisis.
Tens of police, including a riot team, were on the scene.
Marching from the Wenceslas Square, the demonstrators were chanting “Czech Land to Czechs,” “Nothing But Nation” and “We Do Not Want Multi Culti.”
About ten activists staged a sit-in in protest against the crowd that was marching to the Prague Castle, seat of Czech heads of state.
The police repeatedly asked them to leave the area. As they did not, the police detained them and drove to a police station, Prague police spokeswoman Iveta Martinkova has told CTK.
The crowd reached the area of the Prague Castle later in the afternoon. A number of the demonstrators waved Czech flags and the banners saying “Long Live Zeman,” “We Defend Our Homeland,” “No to Brussels” and “Stop to the EU.”
Organiser Lucie Haskova said in her speech she was opposed to the government as it was not acting to the benefit of the nation.
She thanked Zeman as he was acting on behalf of the nation.
The demonstrators listened to three songs played by the band Ortel that is associated with the extreme right. Its lyrics often target various minorities. A speech was delivered Miroslav Sladek, former leader of the extreme far-right Assembly for the Republic – Czechoslovak Republican Party (SPR-RSC) that was very active in the 1990s.
Sladek said he was happy that what he had said 20 years ago found a response now.
“Obviously, my words were true,” Sladek said.
The rally was called by the For Our Culture and Safe Country movement and the extra-parliamentary National Democracy party. Organisers said they expected the participation of about 5000 people.
