Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leader Tomio Okamura sparked outrage last year after launching a controversial anti-immigration poster and billboard campaign prior to the country’s regional elections. 

One of the posters depicted an African man holding a blood-stained knife alongside the caption “Deficiencies in healthcare will not be solved by imported 'surgeons.'” 

It added: “Stop the EU’s Migration Pact.” 

Another billboard portrayed an AI-generated image of two gypsy boys smoking cigarettes. 

Following complaints from opposition parties, Okamura defended himself by saying he had been reacting to the government’s policy and to the European Union’s migration pact, which would enable more migrants to enter the Czech Republic.  

But after being inundated with official and criminal complaints, police are now looking to prosecute the politician for ‘inciting hatred against a group of people or restricting their rights and freedoms.’ 

Okamura told a press conference on Tuesday that the prosecution bid was an attempt to defame the SPD before the parliamentary elections in October.  

He said: “The request for my immunity waiver is based on a criminal complaint filed by the Spolu coalition. 

“It is election season, and the coalition is trying to hold on to power by criminalizing the opposition for expressing its views.” 

He added that in his opinion his movement is acting “very leniently” compared to attacks by migrants taking place across Europe and about which he said there are clear statistics.