This April marks thirty-five years since the founding of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Among those who have remained loyal to the party since its inception is current MP and former minister of agriculture and transport Petr Bendl. His first political role was as a member of the Kladno City Council, a position he assumed in November 1994.
After so many years, does one not lose critical distance or slip into routine?
Although I have been with ODS practically since its founding, I do not consider my work routine. I spent two terms in municipal politics, three at the regional level, twice led a ministry – each time a different one – and in recent years have served as an MP. In terms of values, the Four Poděbrady Articles of ODS (part of the party’s program for the 1998 elections to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic) are fundamental for me, and I have always followed them. Because ODS has never won more than fifty percent of the vote, we have always worked within coalitions – at the city, regional, or national level. Politics certainly does not let you remain stuck in one era or position. And just when you begin to think nothing can surprise you, new issues and new challenges arise that require fresh approaches. There is always more to learn.
ODS is often associated with so-called “uncle-ocracy.” How do you see opportunities for young people from the inside?
I would paraphrase Jan Werich and his reflection on whether George Bernard Shaw’s nearly one hundred years were long enough. I believe age is not a qualification. Being young does not mean you automatically board the first carriage of the train, let alone the first compartment. It is important to give people an opportunity – but not automatically a specific position. Being young means having the chance to prove yourself and work your way up. ODS should open up – and in my view, it already is opening up – to new and younger people, as evidenced by the election of the party’s new leadership. We are aware of how important it is to make ODS more appealing to the younger generation and are seeking ways to reach them. Personally, I communicate frequently with members of Young ODS – young people interested in politics who want to be part of it. For ODS, they provide an important mirror, allowing us to see the world through younger eyes. From my experience, however, the ideal is a combination of both – the experience of the older generation on one hand and the energy of youth on the other.
We must not forget young voters – is ODS succeeding in reaching them with its program?
I believe the autumn elections showed that support for ODS among young people is significant. We are working on long-term plans, whether pension reform, environmental protection, housing support, or safeguarding democracy and anchoring Czechia within Europe. All these are issues close to younger generations.
Is ODS communicating these issues sufficiently?
None of us – or at least most of us – shy away from criticism in this regard. Communication is not our strongest suit. For my part, I believe we need to start at the grassroots. The chances of advancing Civic Democratic policies will increase if we have a broader base and more people active in municipal politics. In the past, that was one of our great strengths. When I was mayor, ODS had significantly more mayors and city leaders across the country than it does today – and they were visible and heard.
Is the new ODS chairman Martin Kupka a new Petr Fiala?
There are two types of politicians. One rises from the bottom up – as I did – from municipal politics through the regional level to national politics. I consider that the most natural and, in some ways, advantageous path, because even through the branches you can still see the whole forest. The second group consists of politicians who come from the top down, bringing professional expertise in a particular field. They have never had the chance to experience municipal or regional politics, but they possess skills and qualities that enable them to succeed. Although some try to portray Martin Kupka and Petr Fiala as identical, they are different. Petr Fiala entered politics from above as a university rector and, unlike Martin Kupka, never worked in regional politics. Martin Kupka has experience at both municipal and regional levels and can view issues more broadly. I am not saying one path is better or worse, but the fact is that in this respect, Martin Kupka is the more seasoned politician.
Does ODS have the potential to reach thirty percent support?
I have experienced ODS with support half of what it has today, but also with support exceeding thirty percent. What matters is that ODS has the chance to remain true to itself. You may have thirty percent, but what is done in government is also determined by five-percent parties, because in the Chamber of Deputies, the decisive voice is always the “101.” It is therefore important to explain to voters the compromises we make in coalitions – compromises that sometimes weaken us among our own supporters. If we can reach twenty-five or twenty-six percent, which is realistic, ODS will not be as constrained by future coalition partners and can be more itself. At the same time, we must not stop thinking about the future and building coalition potential. That is actually the hardest part. You may hold views that differ significantly from other political actors, but when forming a government, you never implement your program in its entirety. You will never control the final sentence of every law – and occasionally that angers people. Today, it is clear that the coalition compromises we made in the previous government are nothing compared to what is happening under the current one.
What exactly is happening?
A drift away from Western culture toward the East. What is currently unfolding at the governmental level in Czechia must be extremely pleasing in the East. Statements by Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Putin bear this out. The Czech government has begun pursuing policies that are not mainstream within Europe and are more aligned with Putin’s Russia. The alignment with Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico clearly confirms this shift in direction. Instead of asserting ourselves within Europe, we are courting Russia. Then there is the perennial question of Andrej Babiš’s conflict of interest. We are speaking at a time when the prime minister should have resolved this long ago. Unfortunately, reality is different. I fear that the current government will deliberately favor powerful market players, particularly in agriculture, at the expense of small and medium-sized enterprises. In the long run, this will bring complications in food security and potentially lead to the elimination of competition, until we reach a stage where individuals control the land, food, and key commodities markets.
CV BOX
Petr Bendl (born January 24, 1966, in Kladno) is an MP for ODS, a former minister of agriculture and transport, and former governor of the Central Bohemian Region.
He studied at the University of Mechanical Engineering and Textiles in Liberec. From 1990 to 1994, he worked in the public sector in Kladno. In 1994, he became the mayor of Kladno, serving until 1998. He was also vice-chair of the Czech Union of Towns and Municipalities.
In 1998, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. Two years later, he became the governor of the Central Bohemian Region and resigned from his parliamentary seat. He defended his governorship in 2004.
Between 2002–2010, he was the vice-chair of ODS. In January 2009, he became the minister of transport. After the 2010 election, he resumed his role as an MP. In October 2011, he was appointed minister of agriculture.
In 2014 he was elected to the Bratronice Municipal Assembly, a post he held until 2022. In 2019, he returned to the parliamentary benches, and retained his seat in the following election.
As a songwriter, he released two folk music CDs. He is involved in amateur theatre and is a member of the Všenory Theater Society.
He lives in Velká Dobrá near Kladno. He is divorced and has four children.
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