DISINFO: Election interference has become a typical thing in the West in relation to small countries
SUMMARY
The recent publication of the Pandora papers could have influenced the result of the [parliamentary] election [in the Czech Republic] and Mr Babiš’s party. Essentially, we have witnessed yet another classic example of external election interference, which has become a normal thing in the West in relation to small countries.
RESPONSE
There is no evidence to support the claim that Western countries interfered in the Czech parliamentary elections.
An Election Expert Team from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was invited to observe the 2021 Parliamentary Elections. The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) stated that the "elections took place against the backdrop of a polarized political context" with the campaign overall being competitive. It doesn't mention anything about election interference.
The previous parliamentary elections in 2017 were also monitored by an OSCE team, and its final report stated that “[t]he elections of 200 Deputies of the lower chamber of parliament were competitive and pluralistic. Voters had a wide choice of candidates from an extensive spectrum of political parties. Contestants were able to campaign freely and all fundamental freedoms were largely respected.”
Although it is possible that the publication of the so-called Pandora Papers might have influenced the outcome of the election, there is no evidence to suggest it was somehow orchestrated with this intention.
The narrative of “Western election interference” has been circulating for some time and has been previously mentioned in relation to Syria, Belarus and Moldova among others.