Renáta Zajíčková: emotions and attacks appear in debates more than facts
"Experience from municipal politics helps me keep my feet on the ground even when making decisions at the national level," says the MP and former mayor of the fifth district of Prague, who is currently a councillor, Renáta Zajíčková. In this year's elections, she is running for the SPOLU group with a focus on education. According to her, it is the key to prosperity and security of our country.
Why did you ever decide to go into politics in the past?
I entered politics because I wanted to apply my long-standing experience in the field of education on a larger scale. As a teacher, headmistress, and founder, I saw every day what problems our education system has and what changes it needs. On a municipal level, I verified that politics can have a direct impact on people's lives. Entry into national politics was the logical culmination of my professional career. I wanted to be there when major decisions concerning our education were being made.
Why do you think people should go to the polls this year?
Because elections are the most important opportunity to influence the direction of our country. Every vote decides who will determine the priorities of the state - whether it is education, health care, or security. If we want things to change for the better, we must actively participate. It is important to sense the current political situation and the rise of extremism within Europe and, through the elections, to prevent this development and keep the state built on democratic values.
How do you perceive the current pre-election campaign?
This year's election campaign is often very intensified. I feel that the political culture is fundamentally changing. Democratic parties face unprecedented attacks, which ultimately undermine the identity of our democratic state. I try to approach the campaign mainly matter-of-factly and argue with verified facts. Talk about what has really been achieved and what I want to pursue further. Sometimes, I regret that emotions and attacks appear in the debates more than facts. But I also see it as an opportunity to get specific information about the work I did in the Parliament for four years out to people.
What topics are you going into this year's elections with and why?
I am primarily going into them with the topic of modernization of our education. Education, in my opinion, is the key to prosperity and security in the Czech Republic. I want to implement measures of the 8+2 reform, which will transform our education system, which is often the only obstacle in the implementation of modern elements of education. In addition to education, I have long been dealing with the issue of addictions, whether they are substance or non-substance addictions. I will continue to promote prevention and reasonable regulation, which protects children and youth, but at the same time respects the freedom of adults. I am also going into parliamentary elections with the goal of supporting the democratic part of the political spectrum. I do not want our country to get caught in the machinery of extremist, pro-Russian, and anti-system political subjects.
What have you managed to achieve in your past term as a deputy?
I consider the most significant success to be the passing of a comprehensive amendment to the education law, which brings the largest modernisation in the last decade. It relieves school principals from administrative burdens and introduces new elements, such as social pedagogues or clearer rules for secondary school entrance exams. As the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Regional Education, I also launched a nationwide debate on the reform of the 8+2 system, on which I worked with principals, parents, and experts for nearly four years. The reform aims to transform the structure of education so that it better addresses the needs of children and the labour market. I initiated a comprehensive modernisation of the hygiene ordinance for schools. The new announcement allows for the creation of modern school buildings in a shorter time, for less money, and with less administration. In healthcare, I supported financial rewards for students of medical schools during their placements and participated in the discussion of the law on psychomodulatory substances, which clearly regulated substances like kratom for the first time in the Czech Republic. Last but not least, I focused on drug policy and will continue to advocate for the establishment of safe application rooms.
In addition to national politics, you also work in Prague 5 ... .
At the municipal level, politics is very immediate. Decisions are practically effective immediately. In the Chamber of Deputies, decisions are made on a much larger scale and the results are visible after a longer period of time. At the same time, it is necessary to seek a compromise across political parties and often even across departments. Both levels complement each other. My experience in municipal politics helps me keep my feet on the ground when making decisions at the national level.
How do you relax in your free time?
I like to relax both in nature and with a nice book. Absolute mental relaxation is when I am with my little grandchildren. At that moment, I put down the phone and just devote myself to them. I also like to go to the theater or to an exhibition.
Thank you for the interview.
Source: interview, editorial staff
