How populists and extremists became protesters

ANO won the EU elections over the weekend with 26.14% of the vote, while Spolu finished second with 22.27%. The parties of the ruling coalition managed just 37.17%. PM Petr Fiala acknowledged that the results reflect the mood in the country and in Europe. He notedly didn't say anything about "populists and extremists," which were his favorite words before the elections for attacking the "non-democratic" parties. Nor did MEP Alexandr Vondra say anything about "Putin's useful idiots." After all, Fiala and Vondra would be referring now to the choices of about 60% of the voters. Fiala spoke instead of "protest parties." In sharp contrast, STAN, with 8.70%, didn't change its pre-election rhetoric at all. STAN Chair Vít Rakušan spoke of right-wing radicals, and newly elected MEP Danuše Nerudová said that the gains of the Communists and of the right-wing extremists and neo-Nazis serve as a big warning. Spolu was the most-gracious loser this time; STAN was the biggest sore loser.