STAN
Foto: Twitter @Vit_Rakusan
Seats in Parliament:
33 seats
It forms the government together with the SPOLU coalition.
Voters:
STAN’s support base includes:
- voters seeking local and pragmatic solutions to regional issues
- younger voters
- urban voters
- educated voters
History:
Established in 2004 as ‘Independent Mayors for the Region’ STAN transformed into its current form in 2009. True to its origins, the party is known for its focus on localism – promoting community involvement at municipal and regional levels.
Political Position:
STAN is a centrist, pro-European political movement that emphasizes local governance, decentralization, education reform, environmental sustainability, and transparency. It blends liberal economic views with progressive social policies and appeals primarily to urban, educated, and younger voters. It positions itself as a pragmatic, technocratic force focused on strengthening municipalities and modernizing the state, often acting as a moderate and stabilizing presence within the coalition government.
Performance:
Since joining the coalition government in December 2021, STAN under its leader Deputy Prime Minister Vít Rakušan has positioned itself as a liberal‑centrist force advocating decentralization, fiscal prudence, localism, and pro‑EU policies. The party has seen modest gains in national polling—hovering around 10–12 % support in early 2025, slightly up from 2024 levels—indicating stable backing among younger and urban voters. Within government, its ministers helped drive initiatives like a national climate and energy plan. However, overall the government coalition has suffered low approval, facing criticism for slow reform delivery and internal tensions.
Perception on Corruption:
STAN has maintained a focus on anti-corruption measures, advocating for transparency and accountability in government. The party’s emphasis on localism and community involvement is seen as a strategy to reduce opportunities for corruption by bringing governance closer to citizens. However, its local leaders have had to deal with a number of corruption allegations themselves.