View source for Petr Fiala

{{Short description|Prime Minister of the Czech Republic since 2021}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{About|the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic|the Czech senator|Petr Fiala (senator)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Petr Fiala
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of Parliament#Czech Republic|MP]]
| image               = Petr Fiala (51940875566).jpg
| image_size          = 
| caption             = Fiala in 2022
| office              = [[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic]]
| president           = [[Miloš Zeman]]<br/>[[Petr Pavel]]
| 1blankname          = {{nowrap|Deputy}}
| 1namedata           = {{Collapsible list|title=''See list''
|1=[[Vít Rakušan]]
|2=[[Marian Jurečka]]
|3=[[Vlastimil Válek]]
|4=[[Ivan Bartoš]]
}}
| term_start          = 28 November 2021<!-- Do NOT change to 17 December 2021, See TALK. -->
| term_end            = 
| successor           = 
| predecessor         = [[Andrej Babiš]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]]
| term_start2         = 18 January 2014
| term_end2           = 
| predecessor2        = [[Petr Nečas]]
| successor2          = 
| office3             = [[Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Czech Republic)|Minister of Education, Youth and Sports]]
| term_start3         = 2 May 2012
| term_end3           = 10 July 2013
| primeminister3      = [[Petr Nečas]]
| predecessor3        = Josef Dobeš
| successor3          = Dalibor Štys
| office4             = Member of the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]]
| term_start4         = 26 October 2013
| term_end4           = 
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1964|09|01|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Brno]], [[Czechoslovakia]] (now [[Czech Republic]])
| spouse              = {{marriage|Jana Fialová|1992}}
| children            = 3
| residence           = [[Kramář's Villa|Kramář's Villa, Prague]]
| party               = [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|ODS]] (since 2013)
| otherparty          = 
| alma_mater          = {{ubl|[[Masaryk University]]|[[Charles University in Prague]]}}
| signature           = 
| website             = {{URL|http://pfiala.cz}}
}}
'''Petr Fiala''' ({{IPA|cs|ˈpɛtr̩ ˈfɪjala}}; born 1 September 1964) is a Czech politician and political scientist who has been the [[prime minister of the Czech Republic]] since November 2021 and leader of the [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]] (ODS) since 2014. He previously served as the [[Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Czech Republic)|Minister of Education, Youth and Sports]] from 2012 to 2013. Prior to entering politics, he was the [[Rector (academia)|rector]] of [[Masaryk University]].

Fiala was first elected to the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]] as a non-partisan in the [[2013 Czech legislative election|2013 election]]. He won the [[2014 Civic Democratic Party leadership election]], promising to reform the party and regain public trust after a [[2013 Czech political corruption scandal|corruption scandal]] involving Prime Minister [[Petr Nečas]]. Fiala's party finished a distant second place in the [[2017 Czech legislative election|2017 legislative election]], and remained in opposition despite multiple offers from the incoming Prime Minister [[Andrej Babiš]] to participate in his governing coalition.

In 2020, Fiala led the initiative for a [[centre-right]] electoral alliance with [[KDU-ČSL]] and [[TOP 09]], known as [[Spolu (Czech Republic)|Spolu]]. He became its candidate for the premiership in the [[2021 Czech legislative election]], running on a [[pro-Western]] and [[pro-European]] centre-right platform, focused on fiscal responsibility and closer relations with [[NATO]] as part of [[Atlanticism]]. The alliance outperformed initial [[Opinion polling for the 2021 Czech legislative election|opinion polls]] and received the highest number of votes in the election, though with one seat fewer in the Chamber of Deputies than second-placed [[ANO 2011]].

Under Fiala's leadership, Spolu formed a [[coalition agreement]] with the [[Pirates and Mayors]] alliance, with a majority of 108 of 200 seats. He was appointed prime minister by President [[Miloš Zeman]] on 28 November 2021 and [[Petr Fiala's Cabinet]] took power on 17 December, making him the third oldest person to hold the office, as well as the first with a [[political science]] background and the first from [[Brno]].

Fiala came into office promising to reform and stabilize the government's growing [[national debt]]; however, the early months of his premiership saw the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the provision of [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|aid to Ukraine]], and the opening of the Czech Republic's borders to the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita in the ensuing [[Ukrainian refugee crisis]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Regional Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation {{!}} Inter-Agency Operational Update: Czech Republic, March - June 2022 {{!}} Czechia|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/czechia/regional-refugee-response-plan-ukraine-situation-inter-agency-operational-update-czech-republic-march-june-2022 |work=Relief Web}}</ref> Fiala imposed [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions on Russia]] and pushed to block Russian citizens from travelling to the [[European Union]]. He expressed strong support for Israel during the [[Israel–Hamas war]]. In 2022, the Czech Republic held the [[2022 Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union|presidency of the Council of the European Union]]. Fiala's administration also faced [[2021–2023 inflation surge|rising inflation]], concerns about the [[Economy of the Czech Republic|economy]], the ongoing [[2021–2023 global energy crisis|global energy crisis]], fall of real wages and low approval ratings.

==Early life==
Petr Fiala was born in [[Brno]] to a [[Conservative Christianity|conservative]] [[Catholic]] family.<ref name=trm1>{{Cite web|date=18 October 2021|title=Petr Fiala: The Czech Republic's New Prime Minister?|url=https://www.thetrumpet.com/24695-petr-fiala-the-czech-republics-new-prime-minister|website=The Trumpet|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> His father, who was partly of Jewish origin, was a [[Holocaust survivors|Holocaust survivor]].<ref name=trm1/><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 November 2019|title=Fast Confession {{!}} Petr Fiala: Being happy is more important than being successful in the eyes of society|url=https://www.lp-life.com/fast-confession-petr-fiala-being-happy-more-important-being-successful-eyes-society|website=LP Life|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> Fiala studied history and Czech language at the Faculty of Literature of [[Masaryk University]] between 1983 and 1988, and after graduating he worked as a [[historian]] in a local museum in [[Kroměříž]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor or former rector and minister. Will Petr Fiala lead the Czech government? |url=https://remonews.com/slovakiaeng/professor-or-former-rector-and-minister-will-petr-fiala-lead-the-czech-government-world-news/|website=Remo News|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref>

In 1996, he became a [[docent]] at [[Charles University in Prague|Charles University]] in [[Prague]], and in 2002 he was named as the first professor of [[political science]] in the [[Czech Republic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Prof. PhDr. Petr Fiala, Ph.D., LL.M. {{!}} Government of the Czech Republic|url=https://www.vlada.cz/en/clenove-vlady/prof--phdr--petr-fiala--ph-d---ll-m--95168/|website=Government of the Czech Republic|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref> In 2004, he became [[Dean (education)|dean]] of the Faculty of Social Studies at [[Masaryk University]], and in the same year [[2004 Masaryk University Rector election|was elected]] as rector of the university, defeating Jan Wechsler in the third round.<ref>{{cite web |title=Masarykova univerzita si zvolila nového rektora |url=https://tarantula.ruk.cuni.cz/UDALOSTI-8396.html |website=tarantula.ruk.cuni.cz |access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> Fiala was reelected in 2008 and remained in the position until 2011.<ref name=":0" /> While Fiala was rector, Masaryk University increased its enrollment to around 45,000 students, became the most popular Czech university in terms of applications, and created a nationwide system for detecting academic plagiarism.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New minister shelves tuition fees plan to negotiate with universities|url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20120613171132699|website=University World News|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> During this period, Masaryk University built a new €220 million campus for biomedicine, opened a [[Mendel Polar Station|research station in Antarctica]], and established the [[Central European Institute of Technology]] (CEITEC) using CZK 5.3 billion from the [[European Structural and Investment Funds]]. CEITEC launched in 2011.<ref name="Petr Fiala - životopis OSOBNOSTI.cz">{{cite web |title=Petr Fiala Životopis|url=https://zivotopis.financnici.cz/petr-fiala-politik.php |website=Financici.cz |access-date=11 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref>

==Career==
===Public activism===
In the 1980s, Fiala was involved in independent civic activism. Between 1984 and 1989, he participated in the so-called underground university, hosting seminars in Brno focused on political philosophy.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Petr Fiala, Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor|url=https://vlada.gov.cz/en/media-centrum/predstavujeme/petr-fiala--prime-ministers-chief-science-advisor-88619/|website=Government of the Czech Republic}}</ref> He was involved in unofficial Christian activities, especially in the circle of secretly consecrated Bishop Stanislav Krátký.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fiala|first=Petr|date=December 2010|title=Zemřel dobrý bratr biskup Stanislav Krátký|url=https://www.getsemany.cz/node/2751|website=Getsemany}}</ref> Along with other Brno students, he founded the [[samizdat]] university magazine ''Revue 88'', published in 1988–1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zázrak jménem Revue 88 aneb Když samizdat dělali studenti|url=https://www.idnes.cz/brno/zpravy/zazrak-jmenem-revue-88-aneb-kdyz-samizdat-delali-studenti.A100324_1356492_brno-zpravy_dmk |website=[[Mladá fronta Dnes]]|date=28 March 2010|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

After November 1989, Fiala continued his publishing and civic activism, working as an editor for magazines such as ''Proglas'', ''Revue Politika'', and ''Kontexty''. In 1993, he founded the Centre for the Study of Democracy and Culture (CDK), a civic think-tank. Fiala was criticized for his activities during the 2021 election campaign because the centre was accepting state subsidies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fialovo 'dotační království' je zavádějící. Před zkresleným článkem varují experti na dezinformace |url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/dezinformace-petr-fiala-cdk-parlamentni-listy-dotace-overovna_2109221322_pat |website=[[Czech Radio]]|date=22 September 2021 |access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

Fiala has been active for a long time in institutions and bodies related to higher education and research in the Czech Republic and abroad. He served as vice-chair of the [[Czech Rectors' Conference]] from 2005 until 2009, and chair between 2009 and 2011. Fiala was a member of the council of the [[European University Association]] between 2009 and 2011. In 2007, he was elected by the Chamber of Deputies to the council of the [[Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes]], where he served for five years. He is a member of many scientific and academic councils of public and private universities and research institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad. He has received a number of awards for his scientific and academic work; in 2011 he was awarded the Golden Plaque of the President of the Republic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Petr Fiala převzal zlatou plaketu od prezidenta Klause |url=https://www.em.muni.cz/udalosti/2271-rektor-petr-fiala-prevzal-zlatou-plaketu-od-prezidenta-klause |access-date=23 March 2024|work=Zprávy z MUNI|publisher=Masaryk University|language=cs}}</ref>

In 2005, he was part of the commission in the competition of Czech and Moravian wines, TOP 77.<ref>{{cite web |title=Čeští vinaři dohánějí ty moravské |url=https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/cesti-vinari-dohaneji-ty-moravske.A051102_110957_vino_pal |website=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=2 November 2005|access-date=11 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref>

===Politics===
[[File:Prof. PhDr. Petr Fiala, Ph.D., LL.M..jpg|thumb|Fiala's official portrait as the [[Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Czech Republic)|Minister of Education, Youth and Sports]] in the [[Petr Nečas' Cabinet|government of Petr Nečas]], April 2013.]]
In September 2011, Fiala served as chief aide for science to Prime Minister [[Petr Nečas]], and was appointed as [[Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Czech Republic)|Minister of Education, Youth and Sports]] in Nečas' government on 2 May 2012,<ref name=ministry-appointment>{{cite news|first=Christian|last=Falvey|title=New education minister inherits a difficult situation|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/new-education-minister-inherts-a-difficult-situation|website=Radio Prague International|date=2 May 2012|access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> remaining in that post until Nečas resigned in 2013.

In the [[2013 Czech legislative election|2013 legislative election]], Fiala was elected as an [[Independent politician|independent]] to the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]]. The [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democratic Party]] (ODS) was defeated in the election and Fiala joined the party in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exministr školství Fiala vstoupil do ODS|url=http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/318583-exministr-skolstvi-fiala-vstoupil-do-ods.html|website=[[Novinky.cz]]|date=7 November 2013|access-date=23 April 2016|language=cs}}</ref> In 2014, Fiala announced his candidacy for the leadership of ODS, and [[2014 Civic Democratic Party leadership election|was elected]] as the party's fourth leader on 18 January. He was re-elected as party leader [[2016 Civic Democratic Party leadership election|in 2016]].

Fiala led ODS into the [[2017 Czech legislative election|2017 legislative election]], in which the party finished second with 11% of the vote. He refused to negotiate with [[ANO 2011]] about joining the subsequent government, and ODS remained in opposition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do Průhonic nepojedu. O uspořádání Sněmovny se má jednat ve Sněmovně, vzkázal šéf ODS Babišovi|url=https://www.seznam.cz/zpravy/clanek/vyrazny-volebni-comeback-ods-petr-fiala-na-seznamu-38773|website=[[Seznam.cz]]|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref> On 28 November 2017, Fiala was elected Deputy President of the Chamber of Deputies, receiving 116 of 183 votes.<ref name="Vedení sněmovny je kompletní. Petr Fiala napodruhé uspěl, je pátým místopředsedou">{{cite web |title=Vedení sněmovny je kompletní. Petr Fiala napodruhé uspěl, je pátým místopředsedou |url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/petr-fiala-mistopredseda-poslanecke-snemovny_1711281445_ako|website=Czech Radio|date=28 November 2017 |access-date=3 November 2021 |language=cs}}</ref> Fiala was reelected leader of ODS in [[2018 Civic Democratic Party leadership election|2018]].

With Fiala as leader, ODS made gains in the [[2018 Czech municipal elections|2018 municipal elections]] and won the [[2018 Czech Senate election|Senate election of the same year]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Kateřina|last=Perknerová|title=Volby 2018: Kdo uspěl, kdo propadl, kdo sílí. A proč |url=https://www.denik.cz/z_domova/volby-2018-kdo-uspel-kdo-propadl-kdo-sili-a-proc-20181008.html |website=[[Deník]]|access-date=10 October 2021 |language=cs |date=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Volby do Senátu ovládla ODS, pro hnutí ANO dopadly podle Babiše mizerně |work=Seznam Zprávy |url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/on-line-scitani-zacne-za-par-desitek-minut-o-nadvladu-v-senatu-souperi-ods-s-lidovci-komuniste-z-nej-mohou-zmizet-58058 |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref> Fiala was [[2020 Civic Democratic Party leadership election|reelected leader of ODS in 2020]].

ODS also made gains during the [[2020 Czech regional elections|2020 regional elections]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ANO vyhrálo krajské volby, hejtmanská křesla ale nemá jistá. Uspěli i Starostové a ODS |url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3198099-ano-vyhralo-krajske-volby-hejtmanska-kresla-ale-nema-jista-uspeli-i-starostove-a-ods|website=[[ČT24]]|publisher=[[Czech Television]]|access-date=10 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref> Fiala then started negotiating with [[KDU-ČSL]] and [[TOP 09]] about forming an electoral alliance for the [[2021 Czech legislative election|legislative election in 2021]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Námluvy pokročily. Jak se pečou koalice proti Babišovi do velkých voleb? |url=https://cnn.iprima.cz/namluvy-pokrocily-jak-se-pecou-koalice-proti-babisovi-do-velkych-voleb-10635 |website=[[CNN Prima News]]|access-date=10 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref> ODS, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 reached an agreement to form an alliance called [[Spolu (Czech Republic)|SPOLU]] ("Together").<ref>{{cite web |title=ODS, KDU-ČSL a TOP 09 jdou do voleb jako koalice SPOLU. Daly 17 slibů |url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/ods-kdu-csl-a-top-09-jsou-do-voleb-jako-koalice-spolu-133025 |website=Seznam Zprávy|date=9 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020|language=cs}}</ref> Fiala became the alliance's candidate for the post of [[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic|Prime Minister]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=ODS, TOP 09 a KDU-ČSL půjdou do voleb společně. Chtějí je vyhrát|url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3215797-ods-top-09-a-kdu-csl-pujdou-do-voleb-spolecne-chteji-je-vyhrat|website=ČT24|date=27 October 2020|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Lídrové s koaliční smlouvou 2021a.jpg|thumb|Petr Fiala and his coalition partners sign the [[coalition agreement]] for his [[Petr Fiala's Cabinet|cabinet]] at the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]], 8 November 2021.]]
Ahead of the election, opinion polls suggested that [[ANO 2011]] would win, but in an electoral upset Spolu won the highest number of votes, and opposition parties won a majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies.<ref>{{cite web|first=Štěpán|last=Bruner|title=Spolu vyhrálo volby. Petr Fiala může být nový český premiér|url=https://www.e15.cz/volby/volby-do-snemovny/volby-prinesly-zvrat-trojkoalice-spolu-zvitezila-fiala-zada-zemana-o-povereni-sestavit-vladu-1384237|date=9 October 2021|access-date=10 October 2021|website=E15|language=cs}}</ref> The opposition parties signed a memorandum agreeing to nominate Fiala for the position of prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=Czech opposition parties form majority alliance, sign memorandum for new government |url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/czech-opposition-parties-form-majority-alliance-sign-memorandum-for-new-government|website=expats.cz|date=10 October 2021}}</ref> On 8 November, five Czech parties, ranging from the [[Liberal conservatism|liberal-conservative]] [[Civic Democratic Party (Czech Republic)|Civic Democrats]] to the centre-left liberal [[Czech Pirate Party|Pirate Party]], signed a pact to form a new centre-right coalition government and pledged to cut budget deficits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/8/czech-parties-sign-agreement-to-form-centre-right-government|title=Czech parties sign agreement to form centre-right government|website=aljazeera.com|date=November 8, 2021|access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref> On 9 November, President Miloš Zeman formally asked Fiala to form a new government.<ref>{{cite web|first=Siegfried|last=Mortkowitz|title=Czech president taps Petr Fiala to lead new government|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/czech-republic-president-petr-fiala-lead-new-government/|website=[[Politico Europe]]|date=9 November 2021|access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref> On 17 November 2021, Fiala introduced Zeman to [[Cabinet of Petr Fiala|his proposed cabinet]] and Zeman agreed to appoint Fiala the new prime minister the same year on 26 November.<ref name="Fiala bude premiérem 26. listopadu, Zemanovi představil jména ministrů">{{cite web |title=Fiala bude premiérem 26. listopadu, Zemanovi představil jména ministrů|url=https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/nova-vlada-petr-fiala-jednani-s-prezidentem-milosem-zemanem-uvn.A211117_054947_domaci_kop|website=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=17 November 2021|access-date=18 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref> In November 2021, Fiala confirmed that he would like to continue with the Spolu coalition into the 2022 Senate and municipal elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiala chce udržet koalici SPOLU i pro komunální a senátní volby v roce 2022|url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3402804-fiala-chce-udrzet-koalici-spolu-i-pro-komunalni-a-senatni-volby-v-roce-2022|website=ČT24|publisher=Czech Television|access-date=22 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

===Premiership===
[[File:P20230222AS-0695 (52735381610).jpg|thumb|Fiala with U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] and NATO Secretary-General [[Jens Stoltenberg]], 22 February 2023]]
On 28 November 2021, President [[Miloš Zeman]] appointed Petr Fiala as the 13th [[Prime Minister of the Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Zeman jmenoval Fialu premiérem. V pondělí se začne scházet s ministry|url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/domaci-politika-prezident-zeman-jmenuje-fialu-novym-premierem-181984|website=Seznam Zprávy|date=28 November 2021 |access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref> Following his appointment, Fiala said he believed his government would bring change and improve the lives of people in the Czech Republic, but that the next year would be difficult for many citizens and the Czech Republic itself.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiala: Chci říkat pravdu, příští rok bude těžký|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/clanek/fiala-chci-rikat-pravdu-pristi-rok-bude-tezky-40379432|website=Novinky.cz|date=28 November 2021 |access-date=28 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref> His appointment took effect upon his Cabinet being sworn in, on 17 December 2021. Fiala's government won a [[confidence vote]] in the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic]] on 13 January 2022 by 106–86.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Czech centre-right government wins confidence vote in parliament|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/new-czech-centre-right-government-wins-confidence-vote-parliament-2022-01-13/|website=[[Reuters]]|date=13 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

Following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022, Petr Fiala and his government took a tough stance on [[Russia]], pushing for the toughest sanctions against Russia and supporting [[Ukraine]]'s accession to the [[European Union]]. After the invasion, the Czech Republic immediately began supplying weapons and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. On 15 March 2022, Fiala, together with [[Poland|Polish]] Prime Minister [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] and [[Slovenia]]n Prime Minister [[Janez Janša]], visited [[Kyiv]] to meet with Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] in a display of support for Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leaders of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia to visit Kyiv on Tuesday |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/leader-poland-czech-republic-slovenia-visit-kyiv/|website=Politico Europe|date=15 March 2022}}</ref> The train journey, described by the media as a "risky mission",<ref>{{cite news|last1=Muller|first1=Robert|last2=Lopatka|first2=Jan|last3=James|first3=Mackenzie|title=European leaders' risky Kyiv mission took even close family by surprise|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/european-leaders-risky-kyiv-mission-took-even-close-family-by-surprise-2022-03-16/|date=16 March 2022|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> as well as an "extraordinary attempt to demonstrate support",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Viser |first1=Matt |last2=Stanley-Backer|first2=Isaac |last3=Timsit |first3=Annabelle |last4=Rauhala |first4=Emily |title=European leaders meet in Kyiv as besieged capital faces fresh attacks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/03/15/kyiv-attacks-visit/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=16 March 2022}}</ref> was the first visit by foreign leaders to Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Polityuk |first1=Pavel |last2=Zinets |first2=Natalia |last3=Berberoglu |first3=Omer |title=Symbol of resistance as EU leaders head to Kyiv 'where history is forged' |url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/03/16/us-ukraine-crisis |access-date=16 March 2022 |work=[[Euronews]] |date=16 March 2022}}</ref> and was hailed by President Zelenskyy as a "great, brave, correct and sincere step" after the meeting.<ref>{{cite news|first=Davit|last=Kachkachishvili|title=Ukrainian president hails visit by Polish, Czech, Slovenian premiers amid Russian war |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/ukrainian-president-hails-visit-by-polish-czech-slovenian-premiers-amid-russian-war/2536419 |access-date=16 March 2022 |work=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=16 March 2022}}</ref>

In July 2022, he officially accepted the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] on behalf of the Czech Republic. He delivered a speech on the floor of the European Parliament, in which he called for the defense of European values, continuing support for Ukraine, and the inclusion of nuclear energy as a renewable resource (which was subsequently approved by a vote from MEPs).<ref>{{cite web |title=Naše hodnoty je třeba hájit, řekl Fiala europoslancům. Předsednickou rolí Česka bude hledání shody |url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3513560-fiala-promluvi-v-evropskem-parlamentu-ten-bude-take-hlasovat-o-taxonomii |website=ČT24|publisher=Czech Television|access-date=9 September 2022|language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Neodmítejte křehký kompromis, vyzval Fiala před hlasováním o jaderné energii |url=https://www.denik.cz/cesko-a-eu/fiala-evropsky-parlament-projev-20220706.html |website=Deník|access-date=9 September 2022 |language=cs|date=6 July 2022}}</ref> The Presidency of the Council under Fiala was considered to have "achieved historic results", as stated by the [[First Vice-President of the European Commission]] [[Frans Timmermans]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Czech Presidency was highly appreciated at the last meeting of the EU Environment Council|url=https://czech-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/czech-presidency-was-highly-appreciated-at-the-last-meeting-of-the-eu-environment-council/ |website=EU2022|publisher=Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EK: České předsednictví EU bylo jedno z nejúspěšnějších za dlouhá léta|url=https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/zahranicni-evropa-uspech-ceskeho-predsednictvi-40418030|website=Novinky.cz|publisher=Borgis|date=20 December 2022|access-date=28 December 2022 |language=cs}}</ref> On 6 October 2022, Fiala chaired the [[1st European Political Community Summit]] in Prague.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rikard|last=Jozwiak|title=What Did The First Meeting Of The European Political Community Actually Achieve?|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/european-talks-prague-armenia-azerbaijan/32070000.html |newspaper=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=7 October 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Net Zero Nuclear Event, at COP 28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference UNCCC held at the Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 2 December 2023 - 68.jpg|thumb|Fiala and French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] at [[2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference |COP28]] in [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates, 2 December 2023]]
Starting from 2023, the Czech Republic went into recession,<ref>{{cite news|first=Thomas|last=Smith|title=Explained: What's driving Czechia's economic downturn?, November 2023 - Czechia|url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/explained-what-is-driving-czechia-s-economic-downturn/|website=Expats.cz|date=1 November 2023}}</ref> and subsequently continued to underperform economically relative to other [[European Union]] member states, which were showing signs of recovery from the [[Covid-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Aris|title=Czechia in last place as rest of the EU starts to recover, November 2023 - Czechia|url=https://www.intellinews.com/czechia-in-last-place-as-rest-of-the-eu-starts-to-recover-300187/|website=[[Bne IntelliNews]]|date=7 November 2023}}</ref> The Czech Republic also experienced high debt growth and a decrease in real wages,<ref>{{cite news|title=The financial management of the Czech Republic in 2022: fastest rising debt, fifth highest inflation in the EU, historically the most significant decline in real wages, September 2022 - Czechia|url=https://www.nku.cz/en/for-media/press-releases/the-financial-management-of-the-czech-republic-in-2022:-fastest-rising-debt--fifth-highest-inflation-in-the-eu--historically-the-most-significant-decl-id13388/|work=NKU|date=4 September 2023}}</ref> despite a decrease in the EU-average level of debt,<ref>{{cite news |title=Czech Republic's Rising Debt and EU's Decreasing Debt: An Overview, October 2023 - Czechia|url=https://czechdaily.cz/czech-republics-rising-debt-and-eus-decreasing-debt-an-overview/|work=Czech Daily|date=24 October 2023}}</ref> and registered the highest inflation rate in the EU during the [[2021–2023 inflation surge]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Czech Republic Topped EU: Highest Inflation Rate, December 2023 - Czechia|url=https://czechdaily.cz/czech-republic-topped-eu-highest-inflation-rate/|work=Czech Daily|date=20 December 2023}}</ref> 

[[File:Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations.png|thumb|10 countries, including the Czech Republic and Israel, opposed the [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/22|resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza]] that was overwhelmingly passed by the UN General Assembly on 12 December 2023]]
In October 2023, Fiala condemned [[Hamas]]' [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|attack on Israel]], and expressed his support for Israel's right to self-defence and actions during the subsequent [[Israel–Hamas war]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Fiala to push EU Council to support Israel's right to self-defence, condemn Hamas|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/fiala-to-push-eu-council-to-support-israels-right-to-self-defence-condemn-hamas/|work=[[Euractiv]]|date=26 October 2023}}</ref> He said that Israel was "the only functioning democracy in the Middle East and is the key to stability in the region."<ref>{{cite news|title=Czech PM says his country will back Israel's right to self-defence |url=https://english.radio.cz/czech-pm-says-his-country-will-back-israels-right-self-defence-8798270 |work=Radio Prague International |date=26 October 2023}}</ref> On 25 October 2023, Fiala visited Israel to express solidarity with the country.<ref>{{cite news |title=Visiting Israel, Leaders of Czech Republic, Austria Pledge Solidarity Against Hamas|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-25/ty-article/.premium/visiting-israel-leaders-of-czech-republic-austria-pledge-solidarity-against-hamas/0000018b-6763-d979-a3bb-ef77992a0000 |work=Haaretz |date=25 October 2023}}</ref> [[Nigeria]] cancelled a planned visit by Fiala on 8 November 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nigeria cancels visit of Czech Prime Minister Fiala: Prague's pro-Israel position in the background |url=https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/Nigeria-cancels-visit-of-Czech-Prime-Minister-against-Prague%27s-pro-Israeli-position/|work=Agenzia Nova|date=8 November 2023}}</ref>

During 2023, Fiala and his government encountered deeply negative ratings from the Czech public.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nearly 80% of Czechs do not trust PM: survey |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/nearly-80-of-czechs-do-not-trust-pm-survey/|work=[[Euractiv]]|date=20 October 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, Fiala's approval rating dropped to 16% in some polls, one of the lowest approval ratings among world leaders,<ref>{{cite news |title=PM Modi tops global approval ratings with 76% votes; BJP leaders laud his leadership |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/in-focus/story/pm-modi-tops-global-approval-ratings-with-76-votes-bjp-leaders-laud-his-leadership-408796-2023-12-09|work=Business Today|date=9 December 2023}}</ref> and the lowest for a Czech Prime Minister since [[Petr Nečas]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Poll: Czech public rates the current government the worst in a decade|url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/poll-fiala-s-government-rated-worst-since-2013|website=Expats.cz|date=March 2023}}</ref> 

On 26 February 2024, Fiala attended an emergency summit in Paris hosted by [[Emmanuel Macron]], to discuss the military situation in [[Ukraine]], as they had recently suffered the [[Battle of Avdiivka (2023–2024)|loss of Avdiivka]]. Fiala proposed the purchase of 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition for [[Volodymyr Zelensky]]'s forces from foreign sources. The Czech Republic were raising the proposal for the second time in one month, after the first proposal had been vetoed by France in the [[European Council]].<ref name="luxt1">{{cite news|title=EU seeks more ammunition for Ukraine to reverse Putin's advance|url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/europeanunion/eu-seeks-more-ammunition-for-ukraine-to-reverse-putin-s-advance/8742102.html|date=26 February 2024}}</ref> Whilst in Paris, [[Mark Rutte]] announced that the Dutch government would provide €100 million for this purpose, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that his government would provide €200 million, among 15 nations which announced support for the proposal.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Michel|last1=Rose|first2=John|last2=Irish|title=France's Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-conference-belie-doom-gloom-ukraine-elysee-says-2024-02-25/|website=Reuters|date=27 February 2024}}</ref>

On 24 June 2024, Argentine President [[Javier Milei]] visited the Czech Republic and was greeted by Petr Fiala and Czech President [[Petr Pavel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Awkwardness surrounds Milei's presence in Prague |url=https://en.mercopress.com/2024/06/25/awkwardness-surrounds-milei-s-presence-in-prague |website=mercopress.com |date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

==Political views==
A [[conservative]],<ref>{{cite web|first1=Hana|last1=Mazancová|first2=Hana|last2=Ustohalová|first3=Barbora|last3=Mašát Janáková|first4=Kirill|last4=Ščeblykin|title=Noblesní pán, který umí bouchnout do stolu. Jak by si Petr Fiala počínal jako premiér|url=https://denikn.cz/708801/neni-to-muz-z-lidu-jaky-je-ve-skutecnosti-petr-fiala/|website=[[Denník N|Deník N]]|date=23 September 2021|access-date=13 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Irena|last=Buršová|title="Přirozená" rodina, homofobie, právo na názor a Petr Fiala|url=https://www.heroine.cz/domaci/5907-prirozena-rodina-homofobie-pravo-na-nazor-a-petr-fiala|website=Heroine.cz|date=11 September 2021|access-date=13 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Aneta|last=Zachová|title=New Czech government mulls appointment of EU minister|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/new-czech-government-mulls-appointment-of-eu-minister/|website=Euractiv|date=27 October 2021|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> he holds [[soft Eurosceptic]] views,<ref>{{Cite book|first=Vlastimil|last=Havlík|title=Europeanised defiance: Czech Euroscepticism since 2004|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1001387203|date=2017|others=Vít Hloušek, Petr Kaniok|isbn=978-3-8474-1085-0|location=Opladen|oclc=1001387203}}</ref> and says that he opposes "[[political extremism]]" and "[[populism]]".<ref>{{cite web|first=Václav|last=Dolejší|title=Klausové mi nebudou říkat, co je pravicové, rozčílil se lídr ODS Fiala. A poprvé předvedl ostřejší styl politiky|url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/vyloucil-klause-sam-chce-byt-ostrejsi-a-ods-chce-udelat-zase-velkou-petr-fiala-vysvetluje-sve-plany-68742|website=Seznam Zprávy|date=20 March 2019|access-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> He opposes [[same-sex marriage]] as he stated in his book.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Menšík|title=Fiala proti stejnopohlavním sňatkům: Tradiční rodinu je třeba chránit|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/clanek/fiala-proti-stejnopohlavnim-snatkum-tradicni-rodinu-je-treba-chranit-40371541|website=Novinky.cz|date=9 September 2021|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> Numerous Czech-based firms have called on Fiala to approve LGBT marriage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Large global corporations call on Czech PM to accept same-sex marriage|url=https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/large-global-corporations-call-on-czech-pm-to-accept-same-sex-marriage|website=Expats.cz|date=30 August 2023|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Over 60 Czech Firms Ask PM Fiala To Support Same-Sex Marriage|url=https://brnodaily.com/2023/09/06/news/business/over-60-czech-firms-ask-pm-fiala-to-support-same-sex-marriage/|website=Brno Daily|date=6 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Česká divadla vyzývají premiéra Fialu k podpoře manželství pro všechny|url=https://denikn.cz/minuta/1246970/|website=Deník N|date=2 October 2023|access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> Fiala is a staunch supporter of [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Czech PM Fiala pushes embassy move to Jerusalem to show support|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/czech-pm-fiala-pushes-embassy-move-jerusalem-show-support-2023-10-12/|website=Reuters|date=12 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Czech PM opposes EU staff's 'pro-Israel' criticism|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/czech-pm-opposes-eu-staffs-pro-israel-criticism/|work=[[Euractiv]]|date=23 October 2023}}</ref>

In August 2016, Fiala stated that "radical Islam is at war with Europe" and that the European Union should not accept migrants who pose a risk.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Martinek|title=Fiala: Jsme ve válce, která se vede i v našich ulicích|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/clanek/fiala-jsme-ve-valce-ktera-se-vede-i-v-nasich-ulicich-40006011|website=Novinky.cz|date=25 August 2016|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> He opposed the withdrawal of Czech soldiers from the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|war in Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Je třeba se z Afghánistánu stáhnout, řekl Zaorálek. Babiš to odmítl|url=https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/cesti-politici-mise-v-afghanistanu-vojenska-pritomnost.A181023_111922_domaci_kop|website=Mladá fronta Dnes|date=23 October 2018|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> Fiala expressed opposition to Russian and Chinese involvement in the construction of the new unit of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spor o stavbu Dukovan pokračuje. Vládní strany věří, že tajné služby změní názor na účast Ruska a Číny|url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/dostavba-dukovany-jaderna-elektrarna-tendr-rusko-cina-anketa-poslanci_2101261602_aur|website=Czech Radio|date=26 January 2021|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> He also claimed that human impact on climate change is "not entirely clear", which was met with criticism and accusations of populism from environmental experts.<ref>{{cite web|first=Prokop|last=Vodrážka|title=Experti: Fialovo zpochybňování vlivu člověka na klima je manifestace populismu. Cílí na bojovníky za "normální svět"|url=https://denikn.cz/716973/experti-fialovo-zpochybnovani-vlivu-cloveka-na-klima-je-manifestace-populismu-cili-na-bojovniky-za-normalni-svet/|website=Deník N|date=6 October 2021|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

At the beginning of June 2020, a statue in Prague of the British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]], in Winston Churchill Square in Žižkov, was spray-painted with the inscription "He was a racist. [[Black Lives Matter]]", referring to a wave of protests against police brutality and racism triggered by the [[murder of George Floyd]] in the United States. Fiala condemned the vandalism of Churchill's statue, describing Churchill as "the great democratic politician{{nbsp}}... who contributed to the defeat of Adolf Hitler", and criticised the graffiti as "stupid and shameful."<ref>{{cite web|title=Autorky nápisu na soše Winstona Churchilla: "Chtěly jsme upozornit na jeho zločiny."|url=https://a2larm.cz/2020/06/autorky-napisu-na-sose-winstona-churchilla-chtely-jsme-upozornit-na-jeho-zlociny/|date=13 June 2020|access-date=11 October 2021|website=A2larm|language=cs}}</ref>

Prior to the 2021 election, Fiala criticised the [[European Green Deal]], a political initiative of the European Commission to promote the transition to a [[green economy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hádka o Green Deal. Babiš dohodu odsouhlasil a teď se diví, tepal premiéra Fiala|url=https://cnn.iprima.cz/hadka-o-green-deal-babis-dohodu-odsouhlasil-a-ted-se-divi-tepal-premiera-fiala-34888|website=CNN Prima News|date=3 October 2021|access-date=29 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Politici mohli dát žlutou kartu obřímu zdražování. Místo toho řeší "drobné"|url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/poslanci-mohli-dat-zlutou-kartu-obrimu-zdrazovani-misto-toho-resi-drobne-176157|website=Seznam Zprávy|date=4 October 2021 |access-date=29 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref> However, he wrote in May 2021: "The Green Deal is reality. There is no point in speculating how it could be otherwise. Now we must seize the opportunity to modernize the Czech economy and improve the quality of life by investing in sustainable development, renewable resources and the [[circular economy]]."<ref>{{cite web|first=Oldřich|last=Tichý|title=Řekl by Fiala po okupaci v roce 1968, že už nemá smysl spekulovat nad tím, jak by to mohlo být jinak?|url=https://www.reflex.cz/clanek/komentare/107289/rekl-by-fiala-po-okupaci-v-roce-1968-ze-uz-nema-smysl-spekulovat-nad-tim-jak-by-to-mohlo-byt-jinak.html|website=Reflex.cz|date=21 May 2021|access-date=29 November 2021|language=cs}}</ref>
 
[[File:Morawiecki spotkał się z premierem Czech Petrem Fialą w Pradze (2022.02.03) 06.jpg|thumb|Petr Fiala with Polish Prime Minister [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] in Prague, 3 February 2022]]
[[File:Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the heads of governments of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia in Kyiv. (51941490085).jpg|thumb|Petr Fiala with Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] in Kyiv, 15 March 2022]]
Fiala also serves as the chairman of the board of directors of the independent liberal-conservative think tank [[Pravý břeh – Institut Petra Fialy|Pravý břeh]].

===Foreign issues===
[[File:Members discussed priorities of the Czech Presidency with Prime Minister Fiala - 52197928418.jpg|thumb|Fiala addresses the [[European Parliament]], July 2022]]
In October 2015, Fiala called for a military invasion by Western ground forces in the Middle East, stating: "We will not solve the problem of migration and destabilization of the Middle East and North Africa unless we take military action." On the other hand, he opposed Russian involvement in the war against [[Islamic State]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiala volá po vojenské invazi na Blízký východ|url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/1594997-fiala-vola-po-vojenske-invazi-na-blizky-vychod|website=ČT24|publisher=Czech Television|date=5 October 2015|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

In June 2018, commemorating displaced peoples and refugees, German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] condemned the [[expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia]] and other Central and Eastern European countries after World War II, arguing that there was no moral and political justification for the expulsion. Fiala responded that "pulling things out of the past with a one-sided interpretation certainly does not help the development of mutual relations."<ref>{{cite web|title=Babišovi a Zemanovi vadí výroky Merkelové o odsunu Němců. Diplomacie s nimi problém nemá|url=https://www.lidovky.cz/domov/babisovi-a-zemanovi-vadi-vyroky-merkelove-o-odsunu-nemcu-diplomacie-s-nimi-problem-nema.A180620_180304_ln_domov_ele|website=[[Lidové noviny]]|date=20 June 2018|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

In October 2019, he condemned the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|military aggression of Turkey]], a NATO member state, against the [[Kurds in Syria|Kurds]] in [[Rojava]] in northern Syria, stating that "the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated significantly since this Turkish military operation in northern Syria."<ref>{{cite web|title=Sněmovna odsoudila tureckou agresi proti Kurdům, Babišovi uložila prosazovat ekonomická opatření|url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/turecko-syrie-invaze-kurdove-cesko-snemovna_1910152040_jak|website=Czech Radio|date=15 October 2019|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

Fiala welcomed the victory of the ruling [[Law and Justice (Poland)|Law and Justice]] (PiS) party in the [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|Polish parliamentary elections in October 2019]], noting that ODS and PiS had been cooperating for a long time in a common European Parliament political group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Další čtyři roky u moci. Výsledky potvrzují volební výhru Práva a spravedlnosti|url=https://www.denik.cz/ze_sveta/castecne-vysledky-potvrzuji-volebni-vyhru-polske-vladnouci-strany-20191014.html|website=Deník|date=14 October 2019|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> He also stated that he would limit the negative impacts on Czech territory of mining in the Polish [[Turów Coal Mine|Turów brown coal mine]] near the Czech border.<ref>{{cite web|title=Petr Fiala: Těžbu v Turówě měl stát řešit mnohem dříve|url=https://www.ods.cz/clanek/19703-tezbu-v-turowe-mel-stat-resit-mnohem-drive|website=ODS|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

Fiala supports Israel and its policies. He criticised Foreign Minister [[Tomáš Petříček]], Minister of Culture [[Lubomír Zaorálek]] and former Foreign Minister [[Karel Schwarzenberg]] for their joint statement on 23 May 2020 condemning the planned [[Proposed Israeli annexation of the West Bank|Israeli annexation]] of [[Israeli settlement|Jewish settlements]] that Israel had built in the occupied [[West Bank]] since 1967.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Martinek|title=Kritický článek tří ministrů zahraničí o Izraeli vyvolal v Česku politickou přestřelku|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/clanek/kriticky-clanek-tri-ministru-zahranici-o-izraeli-vyvolal-v-cesku-politickou-prestrelku-40325237|website=Novinky.cz|date=25 May 2020|access-date=11 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>

In 2020, he supported the official visit of [[Senate of the Czech Republic|Czech Senate]] President [[Miloš Vystrčil]] and other Czech senators to [[Taiwan]] to express support for the country and its democracy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Petr Fiala stojí za Milošem Vystrčilem: Nejsme v normální situaci. Cesta na Tchaj-wan je nutná|url=https://www.forum24.cz/petr-fiala-stoji-za-milosem-vystrcilem-nejsme-v-normalni-situaci-cesta-na-taiwan-je-nutna/|website=Forum24|date=15 June 2020|access-date=15 March 2022|language=cs}}</ref>

In May 2024, he described the [[International Criminal Court]]'s request for an [[International Criminal Court investigation in Palestine|arrest warrant]] against Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and Israeli Defence Minister [[Yoav Gallant]] as "appalling and absolutely unacceptable", saying "We must not forget that it was Hamas that attacked Israel in October and killed, injured and kidnapped thousands of innocent people."<ref>{{cite news |title=Czech PM: ICC decision on Netanyahu arrest warrant "appalling and unacceptable" |url=https://english.radio.cz/czech-pm-icc-decision-netanyahu-arrest-warrant-appalling-and-unacceptable-8817538 |website=[[Czech Radio]] |date=21 May 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Fiala is married to biologist Jana Fialová, whom he met as a student during the [[Velvet Revolution]]. They have three children.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sametová láska předsedy ODS Petra Fialy: Rande na hřbitově, návrh a revoluce|url=https://www.denik.cz/spolecnost/sametova-revoluce-petr-fiala-listopad-89-jana-fialova-20201119.html|website=Deník|date=19 November 2019|access-date=12 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref> He is a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and was baptized in 1986. Fiala played [[association football|football]] until the age of 40 and also enjoys [[tennis]], [[shooting]], [[skiing]], [[swimming]], [[jazz music]] and [[James Bond]] movies.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Flemr|title=Petr Fiala: James Bond Fan Who Could Be Next Czech PM|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/petr-fiala-james-bond-fan-who-could-be-next-czech-pm-01633949408|website=barrons.com|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref>

In January 2024, it emerged that Fiala had omitted to declare an ownership stake of almost 1 million CZK in the Podnikatelska Druzstevni Zalozna [[credit union]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://brnodaily.com/2024/01/22/news/politics/czech-pm-fiala-faces-fine-for-undeclared-stake-in-credit-union/|title=Czech PM Fiala Faces Fine For Undeclared Stake In Credit Union|website=Brno Daily|agency=Czech News Agency|date=22 January 2024|access-date=23 January 2024}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}:
**'''2010''': [[Brno University of Technology]] awarded Fiala the Golden Medal of VUT for his cooperation with the university.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vyznamenání|url=https://www.vut.cz/vyznamenani/zlata-medaile-d177|website=vut.cz|access-date=30 October 2021|language=cs}}</ref>
**'''28 January 2011''': Rector of Masaryk University [[Mikuláš Bek]] awarded Fiala the Golden Medal of Masaryk University for Fiala's previous work as the University's Rector.<ref>{{cite web |title=Petr Fiala – Zlaté medaile MU |url=https://www.muni.cz/o-univerzite/vyznamenani/1801 |website=Masarykova univerzita |access-date=30 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref>
**'''26 August 2011''': [[Václav Klaus]] awarded Fiala the Golden Plaque of the President of the Republic for his work as a Rector of Masaryk University. Fiala was the first Rector to receive the award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Petr Fiala převzal zlatou plaketu od prezidenta Klause |url=https://www.em.muni.cz/udalosti/2271-rektor-petr-fiala-prevzal-zlatou-plaketu-od-prezidenta-klause|website=em.muni.cz|date=26 August 2011|access-date=30 October 2021 |language=cs}}</ref>
**'''2022''': Fiala was awarded the [[University of Ostrava]] Award for Freedom, Democracy, Bravery and Humanity after his visit to Kyiv during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Jiří|last=Cileček|title=Ostravská univerzita ocenila premiéra Petra Fialu za zásluhy o svobodu a demokracii|url=https://polar.cz/zpravy/moravskoslezsky-kraj/cely-ms-kraj/11000030444/ostravska-univerzita-ocenila-premiera-petra-fialu-za-zasluhy-o-svobodu-a-demokracii|website=polar.cz|date=19 March 2022|access-date=25 March 2022|language=cs}}</ref>
*{{flag|European Union}}:
**'''2002''': Fiala was awarded the [[Jean Monnet Chair]] in European Political Integration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prof. PhDr. Petr Fiala, Ph.D., LL.M.|url=https://www.vlada.cz/en/clenove-vlady/prof--phdr--petr-fiala--ph-d---ll-m--95168/|website=Government of the Czech Republic|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>
*{{flag|Poland}}:
**'''2022''' Fiala was awarded the Man of the Year Award at the opening of the 31st [[Economic Forum (in Poland)|Economic Forum]] in Karpacz.<ref>{{cite web|title=Czech PM Fiala receives Polish 'Man of the Year' Award|url=https://www.brnodaily.com/2022/09/07/news/czech-pm-fiala-receives-polish-man-of-the-year-award/|website=Brno Daily|agency=Czech News Agency|date=7 September 2022|access-date=9 September 2022}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ukraine}}:
**'''2022''' Fiala was awarded the [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise|Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise I degree]] by the [[President of Ukraine]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Premiér Fiala převzal v Kyjevě od prezidenta Zelenského státní vyznamenání|url=https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/domaci/3539912-cesti-ministri-budou-jednat-v-kyjeve-o-uprchlicich-ci-povalecne-obnove|website=ČT24|publisher=Czech Television|date=31 October 2022|language=cs}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*Fiala, P.: ''Katolicismus a politika''. Brno 1995. {{ISBN|80-85959-01-1}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Německá politologie''. Brno 1995. {{ISBN|80-85959-06-2}}.
*Fiala, P. (ed.): ''Politický extremismus a radikalismus v České republice''. Brno 1998. {{ISBN|80-210-1798-8}}.
*Fiala, P. – Strmiska, M.: ''Teorie politických stran''. Brno 1998. {{ISBN|80-85947-31-5}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J.: ''Skrytá církev''. Brno 1999. {{ISBN|80-85959-39-9}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J. (eds.): ''Koncil a česká společnost''. Brno 2000. {{ISBN|80-85959-75-5}}.
*Fiala, P. – Mikš, F. (eds.): ''Česká konzervativní a liberální politika''. Brno 2000. {{ISBN|80-85959-73-9}}.
*Fiala, P. – Schubert, K.: ''Moderní analýza politiky''. Brno 2000. {{ISBN|80-85947-50-1}}. 
*Fiala, P. – Pitrová, M. (eds.): ''Rozšiřování ES/EU''. Brno 2001. {{ISBN|80-210-2645-6}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J. (eds.): ''Katolická církev a totalitarismus v českých zemích''. Brno 2001. {{ISBN|80-85959-98-4}}.
*Fiala, P. – Holzer, J. – Strmiska, M. (eds.): ''Politické strany ve střední a východní Evropě''. Brno 2002. {{ISBN|80-210-3036-4}}.
*Fiala, P. – Herbut, R. (eds.): ''Středoevropské systémy politických stran''. Brno 2003. {{ISBN|80-210-3091-7}}.
*Fiala, P. – Pitrová, M.: ''Evropská unie''. Brno 2003. {{ISBN|80-7325-015-2}}; 2. dopl. a aktual. vyd. 2009. {{ISBN|978-80-7325-180-2}}.
*Antoszewski, A. – Fiala, P. – Herbut, R. – Sroka, J. (eds.): ''Partie i systemy partyjne Europy Środkowej''. Wroclaw 2003. {{ISBN|83-229-2425-9}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J.: ''Die Verborgene Kirche''. Paderborn 2004. {{ISBN|3-506-72447-9}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J. – Vybíral, J. (eds.): ''Katolická sociální nauka a současná věda''. Brno, Praha 2004. {{ISBN|80-7325-024-1}}.
*Dančák, B. – Fiala, P. – Hloušek, V. (eds.): ''Evropeizace''. Brno 2005. {{ISBN|80-210-3865-9}}.
*Dočkal, V. – Fiala, P. – Pitrová, M. – Kaniok, P. (eds.): ''Česká politika v Evropské unii''. Brno 2006. {{ISBN|80-210-4076-9}}.
*Fiala, P. – Mareš, M. – Sokol, P.: ''Eurostrany''. Brno 2007. {{ISBN|80-87029-05-4}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Laboratoř sekularizace''. Brno 2007. {{ISBN|978-80-7325-141-3}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Evropský mezičas''. Brno 2007. {{ISBN|80-87029-04-6}}; 2. aktualizované a rozšířené vydání 2010. {{ISBN|978-80-87029-99-2}}.
*Fiala, P. – Foral, J. – Konečný, K. – Marek, P. – Pehr, M. – Trapl, M. (eds.): ''Český politický katolicismus 1848–2005''. Brno 2008. {{ISBN|978-80-7325-155-0}}.
*Fiala, P. a kol. (ed.): ''Evropeizace zájmů''. Brno 2009. {{ISBN|978-80-210-4920-8}}.
*Balík, S. – Císař, O. – Fiala, P. (eds.): ''Veřejné politiky v České republice v letech 1989–2009''. Brno 2010. 
*Fiala, P.: ''Politika, jaká nemá být''. Brno 2010. {{ISBN|978-80-7325-216-8}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Na konci bezstarostnosti''. Brno 2015. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-038-7}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Občané, demokraté a straníci''. Brno 2015. {{ISBN|978-80-7325-320-2}}.
*Balaštík M., Fiala P.: ''Profesor na frontové linii: Rozhovor Miroslava Balaštíka.'' Brno 2017. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-124-7}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Rozum a odvaha.'' Brno 2017. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-131-5}}.
*Balík, S. – Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J. – Mikš, F.: ''Manifest čtyř: Program pro přátele svobody.'' Brno 2017. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-135-3}}.
*Fiala, P. – Hanuš, J.: ''Vraťme politice smysl! Rozhovory s Jiřím Hanušem.'' Brno 2017. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-136-0}}.
*Fiala, P.: ''Jak uvařit demokracii: Od vládní agonie k polokomunistické vládě.'' Brno 2017. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-168-1}}.
*Fiala, P. – Mikš, F.: ''Konzervatismus dnes: Politika, společnost a zdravý rozum v době nerozumu''. Brno 2019. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-186-5}}.
*Fiala, P. – Mikš, F. (eds.): ''Listopad 1989 včera a dnes: Mánesovská setkávání.'' Brno 2019. 
*Fiala P.: ''[M]UNIVERZITA: Poslání, výzvy a proměny ve 21. století.'' Brno 2019. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-184-1}}.
*Fiala, P. – Dvořák, P. – Krutílek, O.: ''Politika v čase koronaviru: Předběžná analýza.'' Brno 2020. {{ISBN|978-80-7485-209-1}}.

==See also==
*[[List of prime ministers of the Czech Republic]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.pfiala.cz Official website]
*[http://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/predstavujeme/petr-fiala--prime-ministers-chief-science-advisor-88619/ Government website profile]
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{{Petr Fiala}}
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<!--[[Category:Petr Fiala| ]]-->
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