Klaus Jr. said that he began considering the founding of a new party when he was expelled from the Civic Democratic Party in March 2018. In April 2019 he announced that he would present the name and ideology of the party in June 2019 after the European Parliament elections. His father Václav Klaus, former Czech Prime Minister and President, was said to be a member. On 28 April 2019, Klaus Jr. called on his supporters on Facebook to help him choose the name of the party, pledging that he would buy a bottle for the winner. Many suggestions were satirical, such as Klaus Klaus Klan, Party of Free Common Sense or Klaustrophobia. Serious suggestions included the Patriotic Coalition or Nation Together. In early June 2019 Klaus Jr. registered the name Tricolour Citizens' Movement. The party was presented at a press conference on 10 June 2019, with Klaus Jr. saying that Tricolour would "defend Conservative ideas of a normal world". The party had two MPs at that time, Klaus Jr. and Zuzana Zahradníková Majerová, who were both elected as candidates of ODS. Among the members of the new party were psychiatrist Jan Pirk, doctor and former MP Boris Šťastný, economist Markéta Šichtařová, former vice rector of the University of West BohemiaIvo Budil and Jan Teplý Sr. Klaus Jr. commented that there were approximately another 10 MPs who were considering joining Tricolour. The press conference was attended by Civic Democratic Party senator Jaroslav Zeman, leading to speculation that he may also join Tricolour. The party held its founding assembly on 28 September 2019. Klaus Jr. was elected new leader of Tricolour. He stated that party will fight its Marxist and Maoist enemies. He also stated that Tricolour was a party for young people as rebellion belongs to Youth and "Conservatism is Punk for today." Tricolour was endorsed by some foreign politicians such as Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party, Petr Bystron of Alternative for Germany, and Viktor Orbán of Fidesz. The party had registered 10,000 supporters at the time, who are intended to be converted into members of Tricolour. The party got its third MP in July 2020 when Tereza Hyťhová joined Tricolour.
Ideology
The program of the party is based on three main "pillars":
Prioritising the Czech Republic and its citizens over the rest of the world.
The view that the wealth of the Czech Republic was created by the free enterprise of its citizens and companies, rather than government regulation.
The defence of conservative values and "common sense".
Klaus said that the full political manifesto will be presented at an ideological conference in September 2019.
Membership
As of 28 September 2019, the party had 240 members, as well as 10,000 registered supporters.
