“Rugby taught me that hard work pays off. It’s the same in local politics,” says Matyáš Fořt

Matyáš Fořt is only 20 years old, but he is by hardly a newcomer to public life in his hometown of Říčany. “I believe that young people not only have the right, but also the duty, to get involved in public affairs,” says Matyáš, who studies political science and public policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University. As a high school student, he took part in the Říčany Pupils’ Council, Central Bohemian Student Parliament, community media outlet Radar Říčany and the school parliament. Alongside all of these civic activities, he was an ardent competitive rugby player. He is passionate about what rugby gave him: “It taught me teamwork, perseverance and the ability to cope with pressure”. Last year, he signed up for Via Foundation’s ‘Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics’ program, and in this year’s local elections he will run for the Říčany Council for the first time, representing the ‘Klidné město’ party.

Matyáš, you’ve been interested in current affairs since you were 13 – what got you started?

When I was 13, Andrej Babiš won the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, and I began to notice people around me in opposition to him. So I started reading books about him and gradually learned more about politics as a whole. I really enjoyed election coverage, analysis and the elections themselves. Then, at 15, when I joined the Pupils’ Council, I also became interested in local politics.

You say that young people not only have the right but also the duty to participate in public affairs – where does this strong motivation come from? Do you have any political role models?

Somewhere deep down, I feel that it is a duty; it probably stems partly from frustration with the global political situation. I feel there’s a need for young people in politics, because they bring innovation and are a bit more idealistic. Paradoxically, I haven’t had any political inspiration, except perhaps my Dad, who taught me to be assertive and determined. He always fought for ‘the greater good’, and I really admired that.

Matyáš Fořt spoke at the 2026 Via Foundation Charitable Auction.

You play rugby – that’s a pretty rough sport. Do you think it’s good training for local politics?

Yes, rugby is a rough sport. I mention my background in rugby whenever I can, because I really do draw on what it talk me in every area of my life. Rugby is a brilliant school of life; it taught me teamwork, leadership, communication within a team and, most of all, a strong work ethic. I started playing when I was about nine, and I was one of the worst players on the team. But my Dad didn’t give up on me – he started training with me and I gradually improved. Eventually I made it to the youth national team. Rugby showed me that hard work pays off. And I see that in local politics too.

You are from Říčany, which is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the Czech Republic. Does good politics naturally attract more people to local politics?

Yes and no. Personally, I became interested in local politics because I could relate to the issues. But then I realized that the city wasn’t doing enough for young people, which was a shift in thinking for me, and that became my driving force. Since then I’ve been able to organize a few events and activities and that’s increased my motivation to keep going, because it’s great to build something for the community.

As a young citizen, what frustrated you about local politics?

For example, the town holds the Říčany Festival every year, which includes one day dedicated to students. But the lineup of performers wasn’t quite what the young people would have liked. I have to admit that, fortunately, this is changing. What annoys me the most these days is when young people are treated as if they still have a lot to learn, because they supposedly don’t know or understand anything yet. Adults often tend to underestimate young people.

You’ve already been involved in many activities: the Říčany Student Council, the Central Bohemian Student Parliament, the school parliament… What have you gained from these experiences, and is there anything you’ve lost in the process?

Student involvement is, and probably always will be, one of the most important parts of my life. There are many things that this involvement has given me: opportunities, experiences, friends, know-how, contacts, memories, and so on. I’ve never really thought about whether I lost anything in the process, but I suppose you could say it took a lot of time—and sometimes even my “childhood.” Many people criticized me and didn’t understand why I’d been getting involved in such things since I was 15. But I simply enjoyed it, and I still do.

Last year, you joined Via Foundation’s “Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics” program. What was the most valuable thing you gained from that program?

The opportunity to meet future local politicians from across the country. I received a lot of support from my peers in the program, and that encouraged me to run in this year’s local elections. I also had the chance to help organize a seminar about the younger generation, about how to engage them and showcase how young people think. It makes me happy when someone takes an interest in us young people and wants to support us. I also hope that my peers will take my advice to heart and get young people involved in their towns.
If you were to look back at the plans you had when you joined the program, how did they turn out?
I’m often more critical of my work than I should be. I always try to look for mistakes so I can improve what I do. In any case, I think our community media outlet, Radar  Říčany radio, is moving in a positive direction. As for the campaign, I was surprised by the trust the people in the movement have placed in me. I’m in charge of social media and the online campaign. We’ll have to wait until the fall to see if it’s successful.
Your focus areas are participation, affordable housing, and education. What is the advantage of addressing these issues as a truly young politician?
When it comes to civic participation, I have the advantage of being, in a sense, a “product” of participation myself. I can show people just how much your life can change if you take an active role. But I wouldn’t want people to view participation solely in political terms. It gives young people a range of experiences that are useful in their everyday lives as well. Another issue, affordable housing, is something that really concerns young people. Here, I see my advantage in that I’m one of those who is actually affected by this problem, and I hope that this, in particular, can inspire trust in young people – the fact that I’m addressing this issue on their behalf. Similarly, the topic of education is very close to my heart.
What is your dream in local politics? What would you like to achieve so that you could say you didn’t run for office in vain?
My goal isn’t any specific position or office, but rather the vision of sustainable development, modernization, and simply ensuring that people in Říčany have a good quality of life. As for young people, I’d like as many of them as possible to stay in Říčany or to return to the city someday.
This year, for the first time, Via Foundation’s “Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics” program is designed for new council members elected in October 2026. The one-year course will be aimed primarily at council members in leadership positions (mayors and deputy mayors). 
We would like to thank the Association for the Support of Liberal Democracy, the Jablotron Foundation, and the BLÍŽKSOBĚ Foundation for their support of the “Taking the Fear Out of Local Politics” program.