On Friday Czech police arrested former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke who was visiting the country to promote his book My Awakening at the invitation of Czech neo-Nazis. That was a little surprising move given the fact that far-right extremism has been on the rise in the Czech Republic without state authorities doing much to stop it.

There has been an increase in cases of racially-motivated violence (30 cases so far this year according to police data), which is mainly targeted at Roma. More often we read about far-right groups seeking public support and political power through public discussions and the Workers’ Party.

The government has promised to deliver a new “strategy in the fight against extremism” but the government is departing in two weeks. No solution seems to be coming from Interior Minister Ivan Langer who says people who have chosen not to work and send children to school should not be surprised when someone takes action against them.

Because state authorities seem to be struggling with the issue, Roma organisations decided to act on their own. They have established Romani security patrols to monitor far-right activities and are planning demonstrations to protest rising extremism in the country.

Many Roma are also seeking asylum in Canada, making the Czech Republic one of Canada’s top seven sources of refugees, according to The National Post.

  • Do you think this is a national problem that needs to be resolved within the Czech Republic and that Canada should stop accepting Roma as refugees and offer that opportunity to more legitimate claimants, as one Monitor reader suggests?
  • What do you think Czech politicians should do to resolve the problem (besides making big promises before the election in fall)?
  • What do you think are the chances of far-right groups gaining the support of the broader public?

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