photo credit: Shutterstock by Cavan-Images
Interviewer: Esther Chen / Interviewee: Maty
photo credit: Shutterstock by Cavan-Images
It was late autumn, 2025. Prague wasn’t just cold; it was buzzing. The elections were coming up, and the city was alive with energy. I decided to go to those campaigns and to see.
Weaving through the flags and tents, I was looking for something specific: the voices of the younger generation.
Note: 2025 Czech Parliamentary Election (3–4 October) The election determined the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Voter turnout was about 68.9%, one of the highest in recent decades.
As a Taiwanese, the atmosphere felt incredibly familiar. Even though we’re thousands of miles apart, Taiwan and Czechia are like distant cousins—we’ve both fought our way out of authoritarian dark days to build proud democracies, and we both live in the shadow of powerful, aggressive neighbors. So, watching Czech people engage in politics felt a lot like looking in a mirror.
That’s when I ran into him. A young volunteer was busy handing out campaign flyers to strangers—me included. Intrigued by his dedication, I asked him for a chat.
The guy standing before me was “Maty”. He’s a student at a local grammar school (Czech: Gymnázium) and definitely stands out in a crowd—he’s a tall middle blocker for a local volleyball team. At 15, his English is flawless, but what really blew me away wasn’t his language skills; it was his passion.
At an age where most Czech teenagers are indifferent to politics, Maty has chosen a different path. “Not many classmates like politics; they don't want to talk about it,” Maty says. “But I started looking up politicians and parties, and I found it fascinating.”
Vít Rakušan is a Czech politician and the leader of STAN. He is one of the prominent figures in current Czech politics.
photo credit: Government of the Czech Republic
Maty is a staunch supporter of the STAN party (Mayors and Independents, Czech: Starostové a nezávislí), a liberal centrist party in the Czech Republic.
Despite having just turned 15, he has already shown remarkable initiative. Before he was even old enough to join the organization, he volunteered in street campaigns, handing out newspapers and promotional materials.
“I found STAN the best because they are liberal, and so am I,” Maty explains. Immediately after turning 15, he applied to join mSTAN, the party’s youth wing, hoping to engage more people in public issues through debates and street campaigns.
Also, Maty mentioned that liberal ideas in Czechia are supported not only by STAN but also by the Pirates (Czech: Pirátská strana). The Pirates are a liberal party as well, and they achieved several concrete results during the time they were in government.
One of the most compelling stories from the interview is how Maty influences his family’s voting behavior. While the older generation in Czechia often leans towards the populist party ANO or left-wing parties, Maty successfully convinced his grandmother.
“My grandma voted for Babiš last time, but she didn’t know whom to vote for this year. I told her why I think STAN is a good party, and she voted for them,” he says proudly. Even more interestingly, Maty demonstrates a maturity beyond his years in dealing with opposing views. Although one of his teachers is a candidate for the far-right SPD party, Maty frequently engages him in rational political discussions and even visited his campaign stand to talk.
Note: Andrej Babiš is a Czech businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021. He is the founder and leader of the political movement ANO 2011 and is known for his populist political style and strong influence in Czech politics. He is also the current Prime Minister.
When discussing the future of the Czech Republic, Maty’s concerns are pragmatic. He worries about housing affordability for young people and advocates for an education system that actively integrates AI and digitalization.
On human rights, he supports the LGBT community. “The younger generation is more supportive,” he notes. While Czechia has registered partnerships, he believes it’s not enough and aims for true marriage equality. Diplomatically, he firmly supports Czechia’s membership in the EU and NATO, viewing it as the cornerstone of national security, especially in the face of threats from Russia.
ČT24 is a 24-hour Czech public news television channel operated by Czech Television.
photo credit: ČT24
In an era dominated by TikTok and Instagram, Maty is an outlier. Due to strict parenting, he does not use these social media platforms. Ironically, this has shielded him from the misinformation often found in short-form videos.
“I mostly get my information from public television (ČT 24) and independent media (Deník N),” he says. This fastidiousness about information sources allows him to easily spot online rumors; for instance, during the interview, he accurately pointed out past controversies involving an extremist candidate.
