ODS mayoral hopeful Jan Teplý pushes for smaller sports halls and climate-friendly city plans in České Budějovice

Jan Teplý, newly appointed ODS leader in the municipal elections and mayoral candidate for České Budějovice, described his path from a private-sector career to politics after his friend Jiří Borovka invited him to join the party. He noted that the local ODS membership fell from about 900 to 600 after a split with Naše Česko, but new members have been recruited. Teplý’s platform focuses on practical city issues: transport, safety, finances, and ensuring sport and culture are accessible to all.

He opposes the 1.5-billion-crown sports hall, proposing instead several smaller, multifunctional venues and a stronger emphasis on climate-resilient infrastructure, including tree planting, solar roofs and water-retention systems. He advocates creating a municipal architect office and traffic coordination body, expanding digital services to cut car trips, and improving public spaces with better benches and drinking fountains. Finally, he stressed regional cooperation with nearby districts such as Litvínovice and the importance of affordable housing projects.