Czech lawmakers have elected Tomio Okamura, leader of the right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD), as parliament speaker. The 53-year-old Tokyo-born politician received 107 of 197 votes on Wednesday, November 5th, a month after his party joined a new government coalition with Andrej Babiš’ conservative, populist ANO movement and the right-wing Motorists.
The parliament speaker is the third-highest position in the Czech Republic, after the president and prime minister.
The 53-year-old, Tokyo-born Okamura, who got 107 votes from the 197 lawmakers present, said he would be “an impartial speaker for all, whether they voted for me or not.”
“We will be working together for the benefit of our country and our citizens. I think we should find common ground,” he added.
