Česká pirátská strana (Piráti / Czech Pirate Party)

EU RANK: 15 (Tier 1: Top Performance)

Piráti is a liberal, pro‑EU, pro‑transparency party originating from the international Pirate movement, with a strong base among younger, urban and digitally literate voters. It advocates open data, civil liberties, social liberalism, environmental protection and rule‑of‑law reforms and has participated in national government and major city coalitions, notably in Prague.

Disinformation and alternative media

Piráti relies heavily on social media, participatory online tools and mainstream outlets, and does not control a traditional media conglomerate. The party frames digital rights, cybersecurity and transparency as core issues and has been active in supporting fact‑checking, data‑driven journalism and open‑source tools against disinformation.

Our research notes that Piráti politicians have been frequent targets of disinformation campaigns by pro‑Kremlin and far‑right networks—especially around migration, drug policy and alleged ties to “foreign NGOs”—rather than initiators of such campaigns. Disinformation/alternative‑media risk is low.

Foreign influence and external alignments

Piráti is strongly pro‑EU and pro‑NATO, supports robust sanctions against Russia and other authoritarian regimes, and advocates deep integration within European digital‑governance and cybersecurity frameworks. It backs significant support for Ukraine and democratic movements abroad and calls for reducing Czech dependence on Russian energy and Chinese technology.

There is no evidence of financial or organisational ties to hostile foreign states; Piráti instead pushes to disclose foreign influence, including through lobbying and beneficial‑ownership transparency. Foreign‑influence DMI risk is low.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

Piráti does not own major media and has limited roots in oligarchic business networks; it has consistently criticised media capture by politicians‑owners and called for stronger conflict‑of‑interest rules. In government negotiations it pushed for transparent appointments to the public broadcaster councils and for insulation of Česká televize and Český rozhlas from political interference.

Local administrations led or co‑led by Piráti, such as Prague, have introduced more transparent criteria for municipal advertising and grants to media and cultural outlets, reducing discretionary favouritism. Media‑capture DMI risk is low.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Litigation over 2015–2025 shows no major corruption cases centred on Piráti’s national leadership; most controversies involve administrative disputes at the municipal level. The party’s funding relies mostly on public subsidies and small donations, with strict internal rules on gifts and conflict‑of‑interest declarations.

Piráti has been a driving force behind anti‑corruption measures such as lobbying registers, whistle‑blower protections and open‑contracting standards. DMI corruption and institutional‑integrity risk is low.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

Piráti rhetorically and practically supports independent public‑service media and investigative journalism, opposing attempts by oligarchic owners and illiberal politicians to pressure or politically restructure Česká televize. It has defended journalists facing SLAPP‑type lawsuits and backed legislative safeguards for editorial independence and source protection.

While party figures sometimes criticise sensationalist or inaccurate reporting, there is no pattern of delegitimising the media as a whole or mobilising harassment against journalists. Press‑freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Low	Digital‑rights party that supports fact‑checking and is more a target than a source of disinformation.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Strongly pro‑EU/NATO, backs sanctions and energy diversification, no hostile‑state ties.
Media‑capture & advertising / PSB control	Low	No media assets; promotes transparent appointments and anti‑capture reforms at PSBs and local level.
Corruption & institutional‑integrity risk	Low	No major scandals; drives open‑data, lobbying and procurement transparency reforms.
Press‑freedom & harassment of media	Low	Defends public‑service media and journalists, opposes SLAPPs and political pressure.