The Young Conservatives (Czech: Mladí konzervativci, MK CZ) is a right-wing political youth organisation in the Czech Republic. It is the youth wing of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), a centre-right political party, and shares that party's conservative and economically liberal ideology.
| Young Conservatives Mladí konzervativci | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | David Vančík |
| 1st Vice Chairman | Jan Hroudný |
| Secretary | Damir Solak (foreign secretary) |
| Founded | 8 December 1991 |
| Headquarters | 17. listopadu 1126/43, Olomouc |
| Membership | 700 |
| Ideology | Conservatism Economic liberalism Liberal conservatism Euroscepticism |
| Colours | |
| Mother party | Civic Democratic Party |
| National affiliation | Civic Democratic Party |
| International affiliation | International Young Democrat Union (IYDU) |
| European affiliation | European Young Conservatives (EYC)[1] European Democrat Students (EDS) Democrat Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC) |
| Website | www.konzervativci.cz |
Young people within the age from 15 to 35 apply for a membership in the MK.[2] Several significant politicians from the ODS party started as members of Young Conservatives, including Jan Zahradil, Jiří Pospíšil, Petr Sokol, Martin Baxa, Petr Gandalovič, Ivan Langer, Martin Novotný, and Pavel Drobil.[3] Former Chairman of Young Conservatives Petr Mach went on to found a new right-wing political party, the Party of Free Citizens. Current Chairman of Young Conservatives is David Vančík, who is in the office since 2019.
History
editThe founding congress was held on 8 December 1991 as a result of previous preparations through Charter of Young Conservatives by a group of students at the University of Technology in Brno and Law Students' Association "Všehrd" from Faculty of Law at the Charles University. First Chairman of the Young Conservatives we elected David Částek.
Ideology
editOriginal ideological course of the Young Conservatives was given by the Charter of Young Conservatives following basic conservative principles: Democracy, Nationhood, Rule of Law, Liberty, Free Market, Tradition, Private Ownership, Family and Morality. Through its history Young Conservatives were closely cooperating with the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Organization defines its approach towards the European Union as Eurorealistic or Euroskeptic.
Activities
editThe Young Conservatives organize wide range of events from meetings with local or national politicians to elections campaigns and international events. The most significant events since 1991 are listed below:
Campaign in the Republic of Ireland for an Irish 'no' vote in the 2002 referendum on the Treaty of Nice.
Chairmen
editBelow are listed as follows Chairmen of the Young Conservatives.
| Name | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | David Částek | 1991 – 1993 |
| 2nd | Michal Špaňár | 1993 – 1997 |
| 3rd | Petr Mach | 1997 |
| 4th | David Rýc | 1997 – 2001 |
| 5th | Petr Sokol | 2001 – 2007 |
| 6th | Jiří Klindera | 2007 – 2008 |
| 7th | Jiří Fremr | 2008 – 2017 |
| 8th | Milan Vyskočil | 2017 – 2019 |
| 9th | David Vančík | 2019 – |
International Affiliation
editFootnotes
edit- ^ "MEMBERSHIP". eycorganisation.com. European Young Conservatives. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Politické strany lákají nové členy různě. Zájem o vstup ale klesá". Czech Radio (in Czech). 9 September 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ "Šéf mladých konzervativců prý zbil řidiče". Lidové noviny (in Czech). 15 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
External links
edit- (in Czech) Young Conservatives Official Website