Suburban homeowners turn to politics amid Prague’s building surge and developer disputes

When Kurel bought a plot in Park Ujezd in 2017, the promised turnkey house was delayed for three years and later required costly repairs that fell below Czech and EU standards. Neighbour Katerina Radmilovic experienced similar setbacks when the developer altered the project, reducing plot sizes and abandoning a planned golf course. Both families pressed Mayor Vaclav Drahorad and Tempus chairman Milos Cervenka for answers, but felt ignored.

In response they founded the civic group UFO, which now fields candidates, including Kurel and Radmilovic, for the October 9-10 local elections. Their campaign calls for stricter monitoring of developer agreements, clearer financing of schools and infrastructure, and enforcement of late-payment penalties that could fund community projects. The dispute reflects a broader Czech trend where municipalities rely on private developers for housing growth while struggling to safeguard public interests.