Kateřina Konečná, former chairwoman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) and a member of the European Parliament, has ended her 21-year membership in the party following the controversy over her decision to join the far-right, anti-communist Patriots for Europe parliamentary group. However, the KSČM leadership has announced that political cooperation with Konečná will continue, without issuing an official condemnation of her unacceptable alignment.
In a statement issued on November 4, following a meeting of the party’s Executive Committee on November 3, KSČM chairman Roman Roun confirmed that Konečná would continue to defend the party’s programme in the European Parliament and cooperate closely with its leadership, despite no longer being a member. Konečná justified her resignation by accusing certain KSČM officials of attempting to divide the party over her decision to join Patriots for Europe. She also declared her support for Roun and stated that she had no intention of joining another political party.
The controversy began on October 21, when Konečná announced her decision to enter Patriots for Europe, a far-right parliamentary formation bringing together nationalist, xenophobic and fiercely anti-communist forces, including parties associated with Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán, Matteo Salvini and Spain’s Vox.
The move provoked strong opposition within the Czech communist movement. As previously reported, KSČM vice-chairman Milan Krajča described it as a fundamental political error, stressing that the group includes right-wing, anti-communist politicians whose positions include support for efforts to destabilize socialist Cuba and for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Petra Prokšanová, chairwoman of the KSČM’s Prague organization, likewise expressed shock at Konečná’s decision, arguing that a parliamentary group containing such forces was no place for a communist. The Communist Youth Union (KSM) went further, condemning the move as a betrayal of communist principles and demanding an explicit party condemnation and disciplinary measures.
Despite these objections, the KSČM leadership’s latest statement neither announces disciplinary measures nor formally condemns Konečná’s participation in Patriots for Europe, instead confirming continued cooperation with the former party chairwoman, who will remain outside the KSČM while defending its programme in a reactionary and deeply anti-communist parliamentary group.
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