ODS Vice-Chair Pavel Drobil has been active in politics for a quarter of a century. He began as a councilor in Bohumín and gradually rose through regional politics to become a member of parliament and Minister of the Environment. The field remains close to him, but in his current party role he faces the challenging task of helping ODS return to prominence.
Since January, you have been Vice-Chair of ODS. There is much discussion about the need for the party to change. How?
I previously served as Vice-Chair of ODS from 2010 to 2013, so the role itself is not entirely new to me. What matters far more is its content, and that is restoring ODS’s economic competence, which we have gradually lost through compromises in coalition governance. That is my role, and I feel quite comfortable in it. I also serve as shadow minister of industry and trade, meaning I am responsible for the economic dimension of ODS’s program and public messaging.
The current government has been in office for just over half a year. Is there anything you would praise it for, even from an opposition standpoint?
I would certainly commend the government for drafting and approving the Economic Strategy of the Czech Republic. It is a high-quality document and deserves both our and my personal support.
And what is it failing at?
It is failing entirely to unify a society that remains divided after the elections and to avoid fueling tension in politics and society. In fact, it is doing the exact opposite.
Your personal motto is: “Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.” Are you able to live by it in politics?
I have effectively been back in top-level politics for three months, so I can say that I have hopefully not stepped on anyone’s toes so far.
You joined a “health improvement” initiative and accepted the challenge from Minister of Sport, Prevention and Health to walk ten thousand steps a day in April. How did that go?
For many years, I have regularly gone to the gym, played badminton, and taken hiking trips with my wife, so I take care of my health without needing a challenge from Minister Šťastný. (laughs)
Municipal and partly Senate elections are coming this autumn. Is ODS already preparing?
Preparations of campaigns and candidate lists in municipalities and cities are in full swing, as are nominations for Senate candidates. The key is to be visible and demonstrate our competence in managing towns and municipalities. And that position can only be built through long-term work on the ground, not just during election campaigns.
You briefly served as Minister of the Environment in 2010. How do you view the Green Deal, the ban on combustion engines, and emissions allowances?
The Green Deal itself – its core idea – is certainly not bad. Unfortunately, it has turned into an ideology and almost a religion, and that always leads to bad outcomes. We need to reassess it without ideological bias and reconsider measures that do not reflect the technological or financial realities of households and businesses in the EU. This includes the administrative ban on combustion engines and the current setup of emissions allowances. In the first case, Czechia managed to negotiate a reasonable compromise; in the case of emissions allowances, it will be far more complicated. Nevertheless, a European compromise must be found – one that does not lead European industry to undermine its own competitiveness.
You served for six years in the Moravian-Silesian Regional Assembly. What do you consider your key achievements there?
That is for others to judge. However, I stand by our success in attracting investors to the region and investing in the environmental modernization of major industrial companies.
What did your role as Deputy Governor for economic development involve?
I was responsible for the region’s industrial zones, including the development of the Nošovice industrial zone. I negotiated with investors and successfully helped secure the Hyundai investment in Nošovice. I also served as Vice-Chair of the Regional Council of the NUTS II Moravian-Silesian region, where we dealt with European structural funds.
After leaving active politics, you and your business partner built an engineering group employing more than 800 people in the region. How did you start?
At the beginning, I had a strong partner and mentor, who has since left the company to focus on his personal life. Now it is up to me and my closest colleague, Václav Planka, with whom I have worked for twenty years. I have no complaints. It is a bit of a thriller, but above all an incredible experience that gives meaning to life.
Is doing business in Czechia difficult?
It is difficult mainly from an administrative perspective. We still feel the need to invent new paperwork, reports, and similar nonsense that take time away from real work. That said, I must add that Czechia is not a bad country for business or for the free activity of individuals and companies.
How is your business doing now?
Our company, ANACOT CAPITAL, a.s., is successfully expanding abroad. Last year, we acquired an engineering company in Slovenia, and this year we are planning further acquisitions. We aim to significantly exceed revenues of three billion Czech crowns and strengthen our market position.
Everyone needs a home and a place to return to after work. What does family mean to you?
Family is the most important thing in my life. Without it, no activity truly makes sense. My daughters are active students – the older one studies at Masaryk University in Brno, and the younger one is preparing for her final exams at a grammar school in Ostrava.
CV BOX
Pavel Drobil (born October 18, 1971, in Bruntál) is Vice-Chair of ODS, former Member of Parliament, and former Minister of the Environment.
He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Masaryk University in Brno and subsequently worked as a lawyer. Before entering politics, he co-owned the Lázně Darkov spa. His company ANACOT CAPITAL, a.s., is now engaged in acquisitions and the development of export-oriented industrial enterprises.
He joined US-DEU in 1998 and ODS in 2000. Between 2001 and 2002, he worked as an adviser to deputy ministers at the Ministry of Finance. From 2001, he served eight years as a councilor in Bohumín and, from 2004, six years in the Moravian-Silesian Regional Assembly, including four years as deputy governor.
In 2010, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, where he served until 2013. During that time, he was also Vice-Chair of ODS for two years. From July to December 2010, he served as Minister of the Environment. He was re-elected Vice-Chair of ODS in January 2026.
He is married and has two daughters, Barbora and Adina. He enjoys relaxing with films, non-fiction literature, time at the gym, or a good glass of wine.
reklama
