All politicians try to reach young people, whether successfully or not. In addition, we have serious problems that directly relate to them, such as housing prices. In my opinion, young people are watching politics, they are not indifferent to it.
You mentioned the topic of rental apartments. What is the situation in general, not only for young people, but for everyone? Is it also the main topic of this year’s election campaign?
This is the most important topic for young people. In particular, it is troubled by students who leave for college. They think about it every day, and they encounter it every day because they see how the cost of living is burdening their wallet. Often they have to work while studying to do it. Of course, the problem is all, but young people perceive it as particularly serious.
You are also a young person, and you, probably, is troubled by the housing crisis and other social problems. Politicians often promise to solve them, but ultimately nothing will improve. How do you perceive it?
I am lucky to live where I live, but I know it is a huge burden for many. Politicians like to give promises, but reality is different.
Humorist or journalist
How do you get to the attention of a young politician?
It is not right to speak to young people just the language we think they use. When someone makes a medium for young people and tries to imitate their speech, it usually doesn’t work because the young communicate completely differently.
That is why I am not trying to adapt forces, but I speak for myself. It is important to bring a different view than traditional media.
It is not enough to do classic journalism and just give it in the younger language. Rather, this is a new approach, a genre that is now gradually appearing in the Czech Republic – to inform people, but in a completely different way. Young people appreciate it.
How do you perceive yourself and your work today?
I consider myself something between a journalist and a content creator. Journalists have their rules and logic that is needed and correct. I respect these rules. But at the same time, I dare something extra – what journalists often do not capture due to restrictions, I can show me. I do not consider myself a influencer or purely comedian. I am the creator of the videos that live with their own life.
Communication of Czech politicians
For example, do you face prejudice for your age?
Of course, prejudices are here – whether in terms of age or appearance. For example, people think I choose Petr Fiala because I wear glasses. Or I certainly support the pirate side because I am young. It is ridiculous, but this is how prejudices work. I try to be neutral and very careful in what I do.
You have also come to politicians who do not very often communicate with the media. You don’t feel they ever use you in their campaigns?
A few weeks ago I had an interview with Kateřina’s final (Election leader of the movement was enough! And MEP for KSČM, note ed.)What was a little surprising, no one has been very interested in it. The interview has become one of the most watched, with more than 200,000 views. Many people criticized me for promoting the communist. I think that I showed my neutrality. My shield is clean in this regard.
When you talk about neutrality – do you have a red line you wouldn’t go for? Who would you not interview with?
I try to stick to the moral frame, even if I don’t want to moralize. For example, I have not experienced communism, so I do not want to judge people for being party. I stick to the facts, but I do not judge individuals. As far as today, if someone encouraged violence or hatred of a particular group of people, I would not disclose the interview. He could hurt someone, I don’t want it.
But to silence someone just because he has a different opinion is counterproductive. If we call someone unacceptable, we undermine our feet ourselves. That’s why I would peacefully conduct an interview with Tomihohohohohoho (Chairman of the SPD – Svoboda and Democracy, note ed.). I even invited him once, but refused. In a few days I will travel to him, maybe I’ll meet him.
Political campaigns
How do you perceive, for example, pre -election music clips and work with the humor or technologies used by politicians, such as the latest SPD song, where they dance with Hawaiian shirts and go out of their traditionalist values?
In order to create a parody, creative thinking and humor should be shown. The pirates surprised the anthem that was surprisingly successful. At Tomi Okamur I had no problem with Hawaiian shirts, rather I was hindered by a song created by artificial intelligence. I am a big fan of political songs, I like them, I listen to them, and that’s why I’m sorry when they are tacky. The clip was nice, but the music was created through artificial intelligence, I think it has no soul. It doesn’t fit me.
Otherwise, in terms of artificial intelligence in politics, the SPD is a pioneer in the Czech Republic, which is not surprising. An alternative to Germany, which is close to the SPD in the Fraction in the European Parliament, has been working with it for a long time, and has been building campaigns. It is probably a trend in the part of the political spectrum.
What should the ideal election campaign look like to appeal to the young generation? Should it use slang and humor or rather not?
I personally use little slang and speak quite standard. However, I do not think that it is enough to make the voters of “crap” and pretend to be false familiality. When a politician reaches for cheap tricks, hints and symbols that we associate with young, it is humiliating for everyone and reveals that he considers young people to be easy to handle.
Give them a solid offer – housing, clear perspective, simple guide on how to start saving, do business, how to make it easier to start work in order to feed on dignity. This is needed by people who go to vote for the first time. Education is important, but the changes will only occur after years. Today, politicians who give young people a real chance of dignified work and independence. It is often missing in the Czech Republic.
What case was the largest this year, which comedians and creators “live” from? Let us mention, for example, a bitcoin case.
The bitcoin case is now dead. Perhaps it had a short -term influence, the main actor (Pavel Blažek, note ed.) He quickly left politics. Personally, I avoid similar topics, it is the outdoor problems that distract attention from essential things. If a case that really affects the elections was to come, it would have to appear in the last days before the vote.
Which politicians do you discuss the best? You watch who is authentic and who is not?
I still try to show who looks authentic. Several politicians were surprised by sincerity. Kateřina Konečná (It was enough!) For example, she also had very positive reactions in young people, although statistics say they would not vote for much. On the contrary, those who avoid interactions show unreasonicity.
Did you happen to have made something too sharp and finally didn’t publish it?
If something could be hurt directly, I will not disclose it. I follow the principle that I will not support incitement to hatred or violence against a group or person. Otherwise I try to be factually open.
How do you evaluate the performance of politicians on social networks, such as Petr Fiala?
A year ago, his networks were very weak. Instagram videos were cumbersome and gray overall. However, there has been a turnover in the last few weeks. The team publishes technically excellent videos from meetings with voters, authentic, without embarrassing scenes. It is dynamic, political, yet nothing impoverish. Even the moments when frustrated people curse him can handle it so that it does not look constructed. This is a very good job in my opinion.
Who would you praise and who loses his breath?
Pirates have a noticeable social sensitivity this year, they do good things, although they sometimes hit outside and sound as if they were not forty. But it is still a shift for the better.
On the contrary, the motorists’ movement is now a little welcoming, especially on networks. A year ago they were a unit, they knew what they wanted to say and how. Today they look more defensive.
Stan and Vít Austrian, in my opinion, do not pull the campaign well. They can be successful, but they are currently in low energy and many things are artificial. Either they bounce and start fighting, or they end up around seven percent and pirates roll them over.
Possible scenarios after the elections
How do you think politics can change after the elections?
I do not see the heads of individual actors, I do not know what Andrej Babiš thinks (Also)Petr Fiala (ODS) or Karel Havlicek (Also). However, if the coalition does not win or at least holds a decent draw and is below 20 percent, it will not be a success for it. At that moment, there is pressure on changes in the leadership. Petr Fiala is historically the longest serving chairman of the par. If it fails and does not build a government, which, according to surveys, is unlikely to be changed on the table.
If the coalition disintegrated or weakened, the ODS could return as a separate party with the new chairman and become a new entity on the scene. If she considered the government with YES and interpreted it as a rescue from cooperation with Tomiohohoho, it would sell it to its voters as protection of the state from Russian influence. This option exists.
For me, it would be healthier for democracy if today’s opposition, even with risks, ruled after the elections. Voters would clearly see how they want to lead the country, and the speculation would fall away that the radical parties are growing only from the opposition.
How do you look at the comparison of the Czech Republic with Slovakia in the campaign? Does it appear as a warning?
Last year, I have listened to the government often, a warning so that we do not end up as Slovakia. In the campaign itself, however, it will not hear it so explicitly, which is interesting. Rather, the threat of Russia is emphasized, and this is an important topic.
Do you follow politics in Slovakia?
Honestly, I deliberately avoid it. In the Czech Republic there is still a strong feeling of an older brother, who allows Slovakia to comment from above, and that hinders me. The political situation in Slovakia is frightening for me, but it is a different world than the Czech Republic. The parties are strongly strong than in our country, the fluctuation is greater. In thirty years, it has been shown that the mentality of Czechs and Slovaks is different in politics. Therefore, I do not want to moralize or judge. We are two sovereign states.
Will the atmosphere also affect violent incidents, as a pensioner’s attack on Andrej Babiš?
I do not want to give it a society -wide interpretation. I regret that the attacks are happening, I am glad when no one seriously happens, but I do not think that the trend needs to be deduced from individual acts. If this was of great importance, it could ultimately harm.
Jan Špaček
Jan Špaček was born on January 20, 1999. He studied political science at Masaryk University in Brno. The company knows it thanks to satirical interviews with the politicians published on the YouTube channel – Fabulation of Jan Špaček.
