Richard Mattyasovszky (18), Ostrava — 2026 elections

Main topics

01

Ostrava as a university city

Ostrava has two major universities and thousands of students, yet in my view it still can't make full use of the potential of student life. I want it to attract more young people and offer them not only a quality education but also a real student life. VŠB-TUO has a modern campus in Poruba, but it's fairly cut off from the wider life of the city, while Ostravská univerzita operates in several locations. That's why I want to look for ways to connect the universities better with the city, for example by developing a university district that brings together schools, affordable student housing, culture, sport, services and quality public space. After all, student life doesn't end at the university door. Ostrava should be a city where students want not only to study but also to live.

02

Ostrava as a city for professional growth

Attracting students is only the first step. It's just as important to create conditions so that after finishing their studies they don't have to leave Ostrava if they want to live and work here. Ostrava needs job opportunities that match young people's education and skills, but also affordable housing and an environment for business and for developing their own projects. I want to support closer cooperation between the city, universities and local companies. The city can create conditions for new companies and start-ups to emerge, connect students with local employers and help graduates find work in Ostrava. Affordable housing is also important. If we want young people to start families here, they must be able to find good-quality, affordable housing and see a long-term future in Ostrava.

03

open city hall and communication

A modern city isn't built only on big projects. Just as important is the relationship between the town hall and the people who live in the city. Residents should be able to easily find out what the city spends money on, why it makes particular decisions and what impact they have. The town hall must not only make its decisions but also explain them clearly and discuss them openly. I want to support ways for residents to get actively involved in how the city works. A good example is the Tvoříme prostor programme, which lets people have a say in shaping the places where they live. Residents shouldn't just be recipients of decisions, but also active co-creators of Ostrava.

A few words about me

My name is Richard, I'm 18 and I study at a grammar school. I've been following politics for a long time and I believe we need to bring in new perspectives and ideas. I went into politics because I don't want to just say what I don't like. I want to actively look for solutions and help put them into practice. My main goal is to stand up for the interests of young people and to create conditions for them to live well in Ostrava, to study and work here and, in the future, to start families. Thanks to travelling, I've got to know various cities, and I've even lived in some of them for several years. I've seen how differently they can work and everything they can offer their residents. It's exactly these experiences that convince me Ostrava has great potential. I want the city to focus more on its future and to be a place where the young generation will want not only to study but also to work, live and stay.

The candidate's texts have been machine-translated from Czech.

Links and social media

@richard.matt24

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