EUPopLink Country report - Czechia.

Abstract

This country report examines the relationship between populism and Euroscepticism in the Czech Republic, a country characterised by strong populist parties and a long-standing critical attitude towards the European Union. Using the EUPopLink framework, the report demonstrates that Euroscepticism is prevalent across the political spectrum, not just among explicitly populist parties. Although hard Eurosceptic positions exist, including calls for 'Czexit', they remain politically marginal. The findings reveal that the relationship between populism and Euroscepticism is not straightforward: non-populist actors may also adopt Eurosceptic stances, and populist parties exhibit varying degrees and forms of EU criticism. Nevertheless, recent developments suggest that right-wing and Eurosceptic forms of populism are strengthening.