COMMENT|Why Czechia's political narratives don’t match reality

The Czech government claims it has freed the country from dependence on Russian gas. However, economist Lukáš Kovanda argues that this is not true. In an article for Mladá fronta Dnes, he explains that Czechia still consumes a significant amount of Russian gas, and politicians should be honest about this.

With a general election scheduled for next autumn, the government is campaigning on the message that Czechia is no longer reliant on Russian gas. This is even advertised on billboards across the country.

However, over 90 percent of the gas entering the Czech Republic still comes from the "Russian direction," primarily from Russia itself. Kovanda points out that when a country imports over 90 percent of an essential resource like gas from any source, claiming to have eliminated dependency is misleading. The public might think this means that Czechia no longer uses Russian gas, but that is not the case.

This November, most of the gas flowing into the country comes through the Lanzhot transfer station on the Czech-Slovak border. Gas enters Czechia from countries still dependent on Russian gas, such as Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria. These countries receive Russian gas either through Ukraine or, in Hungary's case, via Black Sea transit through Turkey and the Balkans.

Although the gas flowing through Lanzhot may be labeled as Slovak, Hungarian, Austrian, or from another country, it is largely of Russian origin. Kovanda explains that this is due to the resale of gas that originally came from Russia.

In Pravo, journalist Adéla Knapová discusses the rise of disinformation in Ukraine. During the summer, the mood in Ukraine was optimistic, with few doubting a victory over Russian aggression. However, by late October, disinformation became more widespread, reflecting growing fear.

As the frontlines worsened, it became harder to hide the reality of Russia's slow but ongoing advances. Forced evacuations in regions like Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk became widespread, with thousands of people fleeing as the front moved closer.

Adding to this bleak situation were uncertainties surrounding the upcoming U.S. election and Donald Trump’s unpredictable statements about ending the war, which only added to the fear.

The cold weather, increasing Russian attacks, and threats of frequent power cuts further fueled the sense of fear. People faced the possibility of being without heat, water, and even internet.

Knapová concludes that uncertainty breeds fear, and fear, in turn, fosters disinformation. Disinformation undermines morale and weakens the resolve needed to defend against a powerful aggressor. Therefore, she argues that it is crucial for Ukraine's allies to continue their unwavering support.

In Lidovky.cz, Václav Hořejší reflects on the progress of Czech towns and the improved purchasing power of citizens over the past 35 years. However, he laments that Czechia still lags behind countries like Germany and Austria.

He also notes that the moral state of Czech society is not ideal. Many still attribute the country's current problems to the "legacy of totalitarianism," which diverts attention from the real issues. This narrative is often used to discredit left-wing politics.

Despite the country's growth, many people are worse off than before. A significant portion of society feels the current system is unjust. Too many workers in essential but poorly paid jobs live in poverty.

Sadly, Czech politicians are not doing enough to address these problems. There is no effective social housing program, nor are there meaningful efforts to combat illegal loan sharks and predatory bailiffs. As a result, the situation is far worse than it was 35 years ago.

Hořejší argues that Czech society and politicians have come to accept the existence of a poor underclass as a natural consequence of "market principles."

The root cause of these issues, he says, is that Czech politicians lack a clear vision. The ideal goal, he argues, should be to create social conditions similar to those in the most developed countries, such as the Scandinavian nations.