A fighter against the "LGBT lobby" and "political non-profits". Who is Jindřich Rajchl and why should we be afraid of him?
You may have seen him on stage with the Czech flag in his hand. Maybe you've come across his Facebook Live broadcasts. And you may have noticed that after the last elections he sat in the Chamber of Deputies - thanks to his cooperation with Tomi Okamura and his SPD movement.
Jindřich Rajchl. A man who likes to style himself as a defender of freedom and "ordinary people". But on closer inspection, his image begins to crumble. Rajchl is not only a vocal critic of the current government, but has also become a symbol of a new populism that mixes politics with fear and anger with ideology.
From football to the politics of anger
Rajchl graduated in law and worked for a long time in the football environment - among other things as vice-president of the Football Association. However, he only came to wider attention during the covid pandemic, when he went from being an activist against government measures to a political leader. He founded the PRO - Law, Respect, Expertise movement.
The combination of his legal education, confident speech and ability to tap into the public's frustrations made him the ideal spokesman for the disaffected. And when his movement merged with the SPD in 2025, a path to parliament opened up. But with it came the question: who does he represent there?
The language that makes the community a threat
Rajchl presents himself as a defender of "normal values". But in reality, he often targets specific groups - especially the LGBT+ community. He warns against "LGBT indoctrination of children", talks about "child mutilation in America" in relation to trans issues, and signs petitions demanding "an end to LGBTQ+ influence in schools".
Such language is not innocent. It works with images of danger and threat to evoke disgust instead of empathy. It gives people an easy enemy to project their own insecurities onto. Most importantly, it reinforces the idea that to be queer is to be a threat to society.
At a time when queer people are facing an increasing number of hate attacks and the spread of misinformation about gender identity, Rajchl's words feel like gasoline poured on a fire.
When nonprofits matter more than corruption
Another frequent target of his attacks is non-profit organizations. He refers to those dedicated to minority rights or education as "political NGOs", which he says control the media and education. The PRO movement has even proposed defining "ideological non-profits" and restricting their funding.
But these organisations often substitute for the work of the state - helping children from vulnerable families, homeless people or victims of domestic violence. To question their existence is to undermine one of the fundamental pillars of civil society.
Rajchl's attitude not only reinforces distrust in public institutions, but creates an atmosphere where any form of civic engagement can easily be labelled "ideology".
From demonstrations to the "take-down period"
Rajchl did not grow up in the parliamentary backrooms, but on the street - on the stages of Wenceslas Square. He organised demonstrations against the government, the European Union and the "Brussels dictate". In his speeches, he spoke of the "overthrow of the government", during which he said it would be time to rid the state of "NGOs, Czech Television and Ukrainian flags".
At first glance, these may appear to be theatrical gestures. But such language tends to herald a shift - from a democracy based on debate to one based on hostility.
Rajchl presents himself as a "fighter against the system". But fighters of this type often do not break down the system, but abuse it.
There are problems even within his own movement
Even within the PRO movement, things are not as Rajchl likes to proclaim. Several regional chairmen have left the party because of unclear management and lack of transparency. The departures were accompanied by accusations of machinations and authoritarian management.
From the outside, Rajchl appears as an uncompromising fighter against dishonesty, but from the inside he faces the same accusations he likes to use against others.
Populism in a glossy wrapper
Rajchl fulfils all the hallmarks of a modern populist. He knows how to speak directly to the people, offers simple explanations for complex problems and puts himself in the role of "the only one who tells the truth". At a time when people are losing trust in institutions, such an approach is seductive but also dangerous.
His promises of 'freedom' and 'respect' sound appealing, but in practice they mean freedom for those who share his views. Respect only for those who remain in his bubble.
Why should we care
Rajchl sits in parliament today. His videos are watched by hundreds of thousands of people and his vocabulary is gradually finding its way into the rhetoric of other politicians. This is not a fringe phenomenon - it is a test of how far we are willing to go before we admit that this is no longer "another opinion" but an attack on the very foundations of an open society.
That is why Henry Rajchl should concern us. Not because of the volume of his speeches, but because of what he is spreading. Because in his concept of freedom there is no room for others.
