# Motorists for Themselves

Motorists for Themselves (Czech: Motoristé sobě, abbreviation AUTO) is a right-wing to far-right Czech political party. It was originally founded by František Matějka, a spokesperson of the Václav Klaus' Institute, for the 2022 Prague municipal election.

## History
### 2022 Prague municipal election

The party ran in the 2022 Czech municipal elections in Prague, claiming opposition to parties such as the Pirates and Prague Together. Motorists promised making the Prague Metro free of charge, greatly reducing the number of bike lines and reducing the funding of culture, investing the funds into transport infrastructure instead. Macinka accused the Pirate-led coalition in the city of bullying of drivers and called them "green fanatics".
Motorists gained 540,209 votes, reaching 2.29% of the total, thus missing on the 5% electoral threshold and winning zero seats in the Prague City Assembly.

### 2024 European Parliament election

For the 2024 European Parliament election, the party was firstly considering a joint electoral list together with Svobodní. However, the party later announced a coalition with the Přísaha movement, with their joint list being led by a former automobile racer Filip Turek. The coalition wants to reverse the European Green Deal and the ban on sale of petrol and diesel cars starting from 2035. It also claims to stand against illegal immigration and the adoption of euro as the Czech Republic's national currency.

### 2025 Czech parliamentary election

At the beginning of 2025, the party announced that it will contest the 2025 Czech parliamentary election independently, after a membership vote favored that option. Party chairperson Macinka welcomed that decision, claiming it will allow the party to maintain "ideological purity". The party has however not ruled out offering spots on its lists to members of other minor parties, such as Svobodní, and said that it wants to continue its cooperation with Přísaha's Robert Šlachta. At the same time, Motorists had also began to cross the 5% electoral threshold in some opinion polls.
As their goal for the election, the party said it wants to beat the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) in terms of a seat share in the Parliament. Party officials said that they view possible governmental coalition with ODS negatively, rather leaning into the possibility of forming the government with the populist ANO. However, Macinka denied the possibility of any government cooperation with the communist Stačilo!.

## Stances

The party opposes green politics, liberalism and progressivism and wants to get rid of all bicycle lanes. It has stated its support for "cars, coal and the crown". Later, the party also proclaimed its opposition to the European Union, adoption of the Euro and the European Green Deal, while voicing its support for a free market, coal and a nuclear-based energy strategy.

## Motor Generation

In July 2024, the party has founded its youth wing, named Motor Generation, under the leadership of former Svobodní member and Ostrava-Vítkovice councillor Matěj Gregor. Gregor claimed that the organization purpose is to offer a right-wing political alternative for a young people and provide a voice for conservative youth, he also aims to bring "order and discipline" into members' lives.
However, a controversy erupted shortly after the organization's foundation, as it had set up a photo booth on its inaugural congress featuring cards with quotes "I have SS dagger at home", "Certified racist" or "Congress 9.11." with an image of a plane and the Twin Towers.
Respekt also reported that Gregor is planning on creating a network of Motor Generation clubs on Czech universities under the disguise of "conservative clubs", as it is illegal to create partisan organizations in Universities under the Czech law). In an internal memo, Gregor allegedly said that they will "create a hell" for progressivists on the academic land, promising that they will make them "whine and scream". Gregor later confirmed the authenticity of the memo, but called it "twisted" by the media. He also denied comparisons made between the organization and Hitlerjugend or the youth organizations of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.

## Election results
### Senate

| Election | Candidates | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Seats | Total Seats | +/– |
| Election | Candidates | Votes | % | Runners-up | Place | Votes | % | Place | Seats | Total Seats | +/– |
| 2024 | 1 | 7,664 | 0.97 | 0 / 27 | 14th | — | — | — | 0 / 27 | 0 / 81 | New |

### European Parliament

| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
| 2024 | Filip Turek | 304,623 | 10.26 (#3) (Přísaha and Motorists) | 1 / 21 | New | Patriots for Europe |

### Prague municipal elections

| Year | Leader | Vote | Vote % | Seats | Place |
| 2022 | Petr Macinka | 540,209 | 2.29% | 0 / 65 | 7th |