"The worst thing is when homophobes attack my partner," says gay Tetín mayor and new face of the lower house Matěj Hlavatý
Matěj Hlavatý is one of the most prominent new faces of Czech politics. In the elections he managed to jump from third to first place on the STAN candidate list in the Hradec Králové Region thanks to his active communication and open approach to voters. The thirty-one-year-old mayor of Tetín, who has made no secret of his orientation, wants to defend the independence of the media, address security issues and bring a new style to politics in the lower house. In the interview, he talks about his plans, cultural clashes and personal issues - coming out, getting married and what it's like to be an openly gay politician.
Matěj, you're the newly elected MP for the Mayors and Independents. How does it feel to enter the House of Commons?
We haven't spent much time there yet, I've only been to one caucus meeting. Having worked as an assistant to two MPs in the previous term, I already have some familiarity with how things work in the House.
I have also managed to assemble a good team of experts who will assist me in the areas I want to focus on in my work. I feel very good about that so far. We will see what the atmosphere is like at the constituent assembly on 3 November.
You are quite active on social media. In addition to being a new MP, you are also the mayor of Tetín. Do you think that the voters "ringed" you up because of this activity?
I'm sure they have. My communication has played a big role in this - I can be critical not only of myself, but also of my coalition partners. I prefer honesty to distortion and I try to have a normal, open dialogue with people. I think that is one of the most valuable things in society today.
At the same time, I feel that voters wanted to give new faces a chance. They have probably been disappointed in some respects by the existing ones - not necessarily by the people on our list, but by the politicians of the governing coalition in general. The election results showed that there was a significant "bounce" across the parties of the former governing coalition, not just in our party.
What's next for your mayoralty? Will you remain mayor or will you resign?
Tomorrow we have an event in Tetín with the citizens called "Come and knock with me", where I will of course discuss this openly with them. But I announced before the elections that I want to complete my third term. We have quite complex subsidy projects that need to be completed.
As I am a non-elected mayor, all the agenda is basically up to me and the only municipal employee - the accountant, to whom I am very grateful. She has literally been the guardian angel of the office for the last few months.
But it will also depend on the decision of the whole council. There will be a new slate of candidates, and I would like to see someone young, with vision and the courage to try new things - even things that others may be knocking on their foreheads.
How does your experience as mayor of Tetín translate into your work in the House of Commons? Compared to some of your colleagues, you probably have an advantage...
After eleven years as mayor and as a county councillor, I know how important it is for proceedings to have clear rules and order. I have never seen anyone behave the way the then opposition - now the new governing coalition - behaved in the last period.
In my opinion, this style of behaviour is not conducive to improving the situation in the country, but rather destabilises it. I want to do tough opposition politics, but with refinement and detachment. I do not want to participate in anything that would destabilise the Czech Republic or hinder its decision-making. The voters have decided, the winners will form the government - and the government should govern.
Does that mean that the House of Commons will not block this term as it did the future government when it was in opposition?
We certainly don't want to perform in the same way. Of course, I cannot speak for all my colleagues from other parties, but I can say clearly on behalf of the Mayors: we will not behave like this. On the contrary, together with the future governing coalition and the opposition, we want to set up a committee to work on changing the Rules of Procedure so that such obstruction does not happen again.
If I had to say my ideal model, I would take inspiration from Germany - each party has a specific time slot in which to speak on each bill. It is fair, it is transparent and it prevents abuse of the Rules of Procedure.
What topics do you personally want to focus on in the Chamber?
It will certainly be in the area of security and defence. At the same time, I assume that my steps will also lead to the media committee - I have strong colleagues around me who have been involved in the media for a long time. And I think the media will be one of the key battlegrounds in the coming months.
I think the new coalition will try to weaken the independence of the public media - similar to what we have seen in Slovakia and Hungary. They will try to break the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio. This is where I want to get actively involved and defend their freedom and objectivity.
Do you think it is still possible to "save" Czech Television?
I believe so. We have a bicameral parliament and the Senate is an important safeguard of democracy. Although the new government majority has 108 votes, I do not believe that this entire group will want to abolish Czech Television or transfer its funding to the state.
Such a move would also have practical consequences - for example, it would place an additional burden on the state budget for motorists, which many voters would not like. We will therefore actively seek partners to help prevent such attempts.
I cannot help but ask about the current case surrounding Filip Turk and his alleged hateful Facebook posts. How do you feel about the whole thing?
I saw the posts before the European Parliament elections. It was already clear to me then that it was not right. I don't know whether this is just a pose, an attempt to show oneself as an 'alpha male' and charm the crowds, or whether it is really neo-Nazi attitudes. Either way, this is a man who behaves abhorrently towards his surroundings - towards minorities, people of a different orientation or colour.
His speech is racist, sexist and openly hateful. In my opinion, such a person belongs neither in Czech diplomacy nor in Parliament. He can do considerable harm to the Czech Republic. In the end, however, it is Andrej Babiš himself who will be most damaged - if he is included among the candidates for ministers and if Turk becomes foreign minister, it will be Babiš who will bear responsibility for the fact that the Czech Republic is represented abroad by a neo-Nazi.
Andrej Babiš announced today (the interview took place on Tuesday, 14 October) that the filling of the individual ministries will be decided in a month or a month and a half. In your opinion, is this an attempt to let the case "fizzle out"?
I think so. At the same time, Babiš told Turk to "clean himself up" - which is dangerously cynical in his case. They are not going to sweep this under the carpet. The posts and cases are there and will continue to be dealt with. In addition, there are other serious allegations, such as sexual violence, that are also likely to surface.
It's important to say that no one created these cases against Turk - he created them himself. He was the actor in them, and now he is reaping the consequences of his own behaviour.
Let's move on to a topic that also interests many of your followers - marriage for all. What do the Mayors and Independents plan to do this term to finally get not just the rights, but the name itself, straightened out?
The ANO movement will have a major say in this. It will be the balance that decides whether there is a real chance to push through the change. But I fear that there are many people in their ranks who will not want to support it - and will end up voting according to what Andrej Babiš says.
At the same time, I am very worried that any attempt to change the name of marriage will trigger a backlash. It could lead to an attempt to force into legislation a definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, or other conservative interventions such as those we know from Slovakia or Hungary. Such things are then very difficult to remove from legislation.
Even in the last parliamentary term, there were people among our coalition partners who were preparing similar proposals. It will depend on how internal communication takes place between the parties with which the subject can be discussed. With the SPD, the KDU-ČSL or parts of the ODS, it is clear that there is virtually no room for debate.
At the same time, it should be remembered that culture wars are often brought up at the moment when the government is not doing well - for example, the economy or facing major scandals. It is then easier to divert attention to issues that are emotive and understandable to the public. When this happens, we can be almost certain that it is not the main problem, but a cover-up.
In your opinion, is there a risk that Andrej Babiš might actually push for the introduction of the two-sex marriage model into the constitution, as in Slovakia? After all, isn't Babiš, with his catch-all party, more of a moderate politician?
This is precisely the question to which I dare not give a clear answer right now. In fact, society is visibly moving towards more conservative values and is becoming partly radicalised. It depends whether this trend continues.
If I had to guess, there could be enough votes for a constitutional majority - because it is not only the SPD, but also part of ODS, KDU-ČSL and ANO. These parties together have a constitutional majority. A crucial role would then be played by the Senate, which could be a brake on any changes.
When you talk about society turning towards more conservative values - what do you explain this with?
I think about this often. I think it's partly the result of the long period of crisis that began with the covid. People were more withdrawn at home, spending more time alone or just on social media. And that's where the accounts that propagate these conservative and often radical attitudes dominate.
Moreover, algorithms enclose them in bubbles where these views reinforce each other. Added to this is the frustration of unmet expectations - people felt that many things came easily and for free. And when a "messiah" appears and starts promising them easy solutions, they want to believe it. It's understandable, but it's also dangerous.
You're a closeted gay politician. Have you personally faced discrimination or attacks because of your orientation?
Yes, since I was a child. I even experienced physical attacks in elementary school. Not in politics anymore - people are aware that I am a public figure and such actions would have different consequences for them. I am used to attacks on social media and I have armed myself against them.
What is worse is when they start attacking people close to me, for example when they write to my partner or my parents. That hits me harder than personal attacks. If someone needs to vent their frustration, let them direct it at me - I can handle that. But when they hurt the people around me, it hurts more.
You mentioned your partner, who you recently married. Did you want to share this event publicly from the beginning?
We've been together for ten years. We built a house together, moved in together, and logically it was time to move on with our relationship. On May Day, we invited all the families on both sides, announced the engagement and set the wedding date for September 6.
It was a natural outgrowth of a long-standing relationship. We didn't want a civil partnership - it seemed undignified. Previously it could only be arranged at seven regional offices and the whole process was unpleasantly bureaucratic. When the rules were relaxed and we could go through a real ceremony with witnesses, family and friends, it was much more personal and dignified.
Your ceremony took place shortly before the election and was attended by STAN chairman Vít Rakušan. Some social media profiles then shared photos of the wedding as part of an anti-campaign. How did you react to that?
Nothing. I wanted one of my best friends to marry me, but unfortunately she did not have the authority to do so. I had already promised Vitek Rakus that if the marriage for all law passed, I would ask him to marry us. The law did not pass in its entirety, but part of it did - and I kept my promise.
Vitek and I have known each other since I joined STAN. We are friends and he is a great speaker. His speech at the ceremony was extremely moving.
Do you think that the presence of an openly LGBT+ politician in the Chamber of Deputies has a symbolic meaning? Can it help change public opinion and the social atmosphere?
Definitely yes. If someone enters politics just because they are young or because they are gay, it is not enough. But if a person has a real motivation to change something in society, a clear vision and goals, then he or she can succeed regardless of age or orientation. The important thing is to be able to convince voters that the vision is worth it.
Our interview may be read by a young person who is not yet outcast and does not live in a completely friendly environment. As a successful LGBT politician, what would you say to them?
Don't give up and don't let yourself be broken. And most importantly, don't rush coming out like I did. It's better to confide in friends he really trusts first, and only when he's ready to tell the wider community. That first step is mentally very challenging and can make a big difference in quality of life.
So what was yours?
I was about 15 or 16 years old. In a drunken stupor, I brought home a boy I thought was my boyfriend and told my parents straight away that he was my partner and would be sleeping with us. That really wasn't the ideal coming out to my parents.
That sounds pretty uncompromising. How did your parents react?
I grew up in a Catholic family, though not very strictly religious. But my parents always wanted me to be happy, and they loved me. The biggest turning point came when they met my partner and saw that he was a completely "normal" person with whom they got along. That's when they knew it was okay.
How does your husband cope with being politically active and being in the public eye, including homophobic attacks?
He handles it well, he has always supported me and shared the joy of my successes. I, on the other hand, try to support him. We complement each other on that. Now it will be harder for us in terms of time - we have to coordinate our calendars, when I will be in Prague and when I will be at home in Tetín, so that our dog is not alone too often and we have as much time together as possible. But I believe we will manage.
