Law, Respect, Expertise

Law, Respect, Expertise (Právo Respekt Odbornost, PRO 2022 ) is a right-wing populist political party in the Czech Republic.

History
The party was founded in June 2022 by figures linked to Charter 2022, an initiative opposing COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations. Lawyer Jindřich Rajchl, a former member of the Tricolour Citizens' Movement, became its first leader. The party largely focused on energy policy during the press conferences held to launch the party. In July 2022, the party announced it would nominate seven candidates for the 2022 Czech Senate election, including Hana Zelená and Ivan Noveský.

The party gained some media attention during August 2022 when Rajchl appeared in a Sanep poll for preferred Prime Minister, finishing fourth with 7.9%. On 3 September 2022, Rajchl and other prominent members of the party appeared at an anti-government demonstration on Wenceslas Square.

PRO participated in the 2022 Czech Senate election with seven candidates. Jana Zwyrtek Hamplová, who was endorsed by PRO, advanced to the second round and eventually won the seat.

Positions
The party has been labelled as pro-Russian, due to several PRO candidates calling for an end to sanctions on Russia, and Czech support for Ukraine. However, in April 2023, party vice-chair Petr Vack rejected this label, saying PRO considered Russia's actions against Ukraine to be "aggression" and "the conflict should end under the conditions of full respect for Ukraine's territorial sovereignty".

According to Rajchl, the party is inspired by the politics of Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico, stands against "the Green and Rainbow Inquisition", and represents national conservatism.