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Jindřich Rajchl

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Jindřich Rajchl
Rajchl in 2024
Chairman of Law, Respect, Expertise
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 June 2022
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born (1976-09-27) 27 September 1976 (age 48)
Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia
Political partyLaw, Respect, Expertise (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations		Tricolour Citizens' Movement (until 2022)
ChildrenThree daughters
Alma materCharles University

Jindřich Rajchl (born 27 September 1976) is a Czech political activist, lawyer and former football ambassador. He gained a public profile as a leader of demonstrations against measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic, and subsequently also against the government of Petr Fiala. He is widely considered to be a participant in the spread of misinformation in the Czech Republic.

Early life and career

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Rajchl graduated from the Faculty of Law of Charles University in Prague.[1] He was brought into football[clarification needed] by František Chvalovský, executive director of the Czech club FK Chmel Blšany (2002-2005).[2][3][4] Rajchl was associated[clarification needed] with FK Dukla Prague, then became vice-chairman of the Football Association of the Czech Republic (FAČR).[5]

In 2011, Rajchl attempted unsuccessfully to become chairman of FAČR, failing to gain the support of Roman Berbr [cs], according to news server Aktuálně.cz [cs]. He was also linked to another football ambassador, Ivan Hašek.[6][7]

Between 2011 and 2012, Rajchl was a member of the board of directors of SAZKA, [8] following the company's bankruptcy and the sale of its betting business.[9]

Rajchl worked as a director of the gambling company Bwin for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[10][11] However, the company closed the office in the former country during his tenure.[12] He also operates two restaurants in Prague.[13]

Political career

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As an activist, Rajchl spoke at multiple demonstrations against measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic and Russo–Ukrainian war.[14]

Rajchl was a member of the Tricolour Citizens' Movement and ran to become a candidate in the 2018 Czech presidential elections,[15] but suspended his bid before the election. At the party assembly in January 2022, he withdrew his candidacy to become party chair, with Zuzana Majerová re-elected instead.[16]

Rajchl has been a key figure in demonstrations against the Cabinet of Petr Fiala.[17] He is widely considered to be a participant in the spread of misinformation in the Czech Republic,[18][19] including the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

In June 2022, Rajchl founded a new party, Law, Respect, Expertise (PRO), serving as its founding chair.[21] The party is perceived by some critics as having a pro-Kremlin orientation. The PRO-supported candidate in the 2022 Czech Senate election was also endorsed by outgoing senator Jaroslav Doubrava [cs], an open supporter of Vladimir Putin.[22]

On 3 September 2022, Rajchl took part in an anti-government demonstration attended by 70,000 people. Several politicians, including Prime Minister Petr Fiala, characterised the protest as a "pro-Russian initiative".[23] On 11 March 2023, Rajchl called a demonstration, "Czech Republic against poverty", during which protesters attempted to remove the Ukrainian flag flying outside the National Museum, where supporters of Ukraine had gathered. According to journalist Martin Bartkovský, a long-time analyst of anti-government demonstrations, this demonstrated the anti-Ukrainian focus of the event.[24]

In June 2023, Seznam Zprávy included Rajchl on a list of people who make money by spreading fear and manipulation.[25] He repeatedly predicted that a litre of fuel would cost up to CZK 150.[26] Rajchl also reported the end of the company Kofola, which was in fact doing well.[27] He later discussed this issue with Czech citizens, but Seznam Zprávy reported that the number of participants in these discussions had been overstated.[28]

Rajchl also joined a protest by farmers in February 2024. Some farmers distanced themselves from Rajchl, and ended the protest early due to his participation.[29] During the protest, it was reported that Rajchl physically threatened a young man who expressed disagreement with him.[30]

Rajchl was announced as the lead candidate for the PRO list in the 2024 European Parliament elections.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Jindřich Rajchl". Rádio Universum (in Czech). 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  2. ^ Bílek, Petr (8 July 2004). "Rajchl: šéf, který se v Blšanech i ožení". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Prague: Mafra. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Ďáblův advokát dráždí věkem. Rajchl vyrostl ve stínu Chvalovského". Blesk (in Czech). 15 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. ^ Koukal, Josef (2 January 2013). "Bez trestů díky amnestii skončí i Chvalovský, Pomeje či Trpišovský". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. ^ Dlouhý, Hynek (16 September 2021). "Blšanský Rajchl šéfem není. Zatím?". Deník (in Czech). Prague: Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Poraženému Rajchlovi volal Ivan Hašek: Jindro, je to v háji". Blesk (in Czech). 17 November 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Jindřich Rajchl". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Veřejný rejstřík a Sbírka listin | Úplný výpis z obchodního rejstříku". or.justice.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Nové vedení Sazky se připojí k Pentě a České spořitelně. Chce také zrušit prodej společnosti". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ Hašek, Martin (8 February 2012). "Nový šéf ČSTV Miroslav Jansta: Z rozpočtu budeme žádat 4 miliardy". Blesk (in Czech). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  11. ^ Kalouš, Pavel (29 June 2009). "Chvalovského rady? Rajchl by je bral". Lidové noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  12. ^ Kütner, Dušan (5 March 2014). "Sázkařská firma Bwin v tichosti zavřela v Česku kancelář. Míří do USA". E15 (in Czech). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  13. ^ Koutník, Ondřej (23 September 2021). "Kdo stojí v pozadí Trikolóry? Právník, co se radí s Hrdličkou". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  14. ^ Řiha, Matěj; Kotalík, Jakub (23 March 2021). "Nasaďte si roušku! Většina lidí policisty poslechne". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  15. ^ Soukup, Jaroslav (28 December 2021). "Neúspěšnou Trikolóru chce vést právník Rajchl". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Rozpad Trikolóry? Volba předsedy přinesla nečekaný zvrat". Regionální Noviny (in Czech). 29 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Napříč Českem protestovali odpůrci v očkování. Demonstrace byly bez větších incidentů". Czech Radio (in Czech). 8 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  18. ^ Janouš, Václav; Sloupová, Miroslava (16 April 2023). "Sdílí propagandu a mluví chytře. Rajchl čeká na demonstraci 300 tisíc lidí". Mladá fronta Dnes (in Czech). Prague: Mafra.
  19. ^ Kopecká, Jana (13 April 2023). "Karlovarská knihovna byla dějištěm protivládní agitky PRO. Hřímal na ní Rajchl". Deník (in Czech). Prague: Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  20. ^ Krupka, Jaroslav (30 December 2021). "Očkování zabíjí sportovce, spekulují antivaxeři. Ničím to ale nedokládají". Deník (in Czech). Prague: Vltave Labe Media. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Nová politická strana PRO chce zlevnit energie a obnovit důvěru v právo". České Noviny (in Czech). 18 June 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  22. ^ Cemper, Jan (20 August 2022). "Poslední tažení Jaroslava Doubravy a proruská PRO". Manipulátoři (in Czech). Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  23. ^ Ryšavá, First (5 September 2022). "Popírači covidu, dezinformátoři i krajní pravice a levice. Kdo vystupoval na demonstraci proti vládě?". Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  24. ^ Strakatý, Čestmír; Albrechtová, Eva (17 April 2023). "Bartkovský: Rajchl přecenil síly, lidé od něj dávají ruce pryč, demonstrace byla jasně protiukrajinská". Reflex (in Czech). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  25. ^ Ciroková, Kristina; Valášek, Lukáš (15 June 2023). "Přehled těch, kteří v Česku vydělávají na strachu lidí". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech).
  26. ^ Nowak, Jenny (9 May 2023). "Podivuhodný prorok Rajchl. Žádná jeho katastrofická předpověď se nevyplnila". Forum 24 (in Czech). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  27. ^ Cemper, Jan (4 September 2023). "Katastrofické prognózy Jindřicha Rajchla. Ani jedna se nevyplnila". Manipulátoři (in Czech). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  28. ^ Ramboušková, Michaela; Gavenda, Jaroslav; Turek, Michal (19 November 2023). "Mám na výjezdech plno, tvrdil Rajchl. Realita je ale jiná". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  29. ^ Čemper, Jan (20 February 2024). "Rajchl v nemilosti. Protest kvůli němu skončil dříve". Manipulatori (in Czech).
  30. ^ Skácel, Martin (20 February 2024). "Rajchlova představa demokracie. Fyzicky trestat mladé za jejich názory?". Infopuls (in Czech).
  31. ^ "Koalici PRO povede do eurovoleb Jindřich Rajchl". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
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