Moravané
The Moravians Moravané | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Milan Trnka |
| Founded | 1990 (as HSD-SMS), 2005 (as Moravané) |
| Headquarters | Solniční 8, Brno |
| Ideology |
Nationalism Federalism Separatism Moravism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| European affiliation | European Free Alliance |
| Colours | gold, red |
| Website | |
| www.moravane.eu | |
Moravané (English: Moravians) is a small non-parliamentary political party in Moravia in the Czech Republic.
History
It arose in 2005 through a merger of two older local parties: Hnutí samosprávné Moravy a Slezska – Moravské národní sjednocení ("The Movement of Autonomous Moravia and Silesia - Moravian National Union") and Moravská demokratická strana ("the Moravian Democratic Party"). Pavel Dohnal, a former communist, became the party chairman. The party first participated in the nationwide parliamentary election in June 2006 and won 0.23% of the national popular vote, falling below the minimum threshold to gain any seats. Moravané is a member party of the European Free Alliance. A youth wing of the party (Mladí Moravané - Young Moravians) also operates.
In March 2009, party leadership passed to Jiří Novotný.
Ideology
The main goal of the party is as follows: "On the principle of the right of self-determination of the Moravian nation, Moravané advocates for the independence of Moravia via restoration of the Moravian legislative parliament within the territorial scope of the Moravian ecclesiastical province."[1][2] The party strongly disfavours state centralism, and expresses anti-Czech (Bohemian) sentiment; "Prague" (both the city and Czech government) is blamed for "suppressing Moravian culture, traditions and language" and for "pauperising of Moravia".[3]
According to Moravané, the future of the Europe lies in dismantling the modern European nation-states and establishing new states on historical territorial boundaries. Moreover, the party supports the codification and recognition of the Moravian language, traditionally considered a dialect of Czech by linguists and the public.
Activities
The party organises open air actions, meetings and sit-ins, "candle marches" (founded at 2005) in Brno and Olomouc, "pilgrimages to the Morava river spring", demonstrations against "Czechization" etc.
During a 'candle march' on 27 February 2010, forty party members decorated with numerous Moravian flags marched through the historical part of Brno to the pre-war Moravian Diet building, which Moravané claims to be occupied by a "foreign state", and the Moravian Square. The protest was poorly received by passers-by, with one on-looker noting "at this rate, the [Moravian people] will be looked on as fools".[4] The march was not registered with the Police and was later halted.[4] On 25 July 2010, Moravané participated in a demonstration in Moravský Krumlov to attempt to halt a collection of Alfons Mucha paintings named The Slav Epic from being returned to Prague.
Notes
- ↑ Modern Czech regions don't follow Moravané's claimed boundaries of the Moravian state
- ↑ http://www.moravane.cz/program.php
- ↑ Some examples of such statements can be seen in the party's election spots: Vote No. 16 (elections 2009) or The Moravian Truth and Czech/Bohemian Lie (both in Czech)
- 1 2 Šenkýř, Miloš (February 27, 2010). "Moravané ke "své" sněmovně nesměli. Prohlásili ji za ukradenou" [Moravané did not receive permission to visit "their" Diet; declared it stolen.]. Lidové noviny (in Czech). Prague. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
External links
- Official website (Czech)
- Official internet forum (Czech)
- Should Moravians be treated as an ethnic minority? – transcription of the programme broadcast on March 2007 on ČRo 7 (Radio Prague)
- Concept of the Constitution of Republic of Moravia (Czech) – created "pro futuro" by former party leader P. Dohnal
