In a local referendum in Břidličná in the Bruntál District on 30 October 2026, voters rejected the town's cooperation in the preparation, permitting and construction of wind power plants on its territory. 1,041 voters took part; 923 voted against and 118 in favour [1][2].
Question and result
The residents of Břidličná and its local parts Vajglov and Albrechtice u Rýmařova voted. The question was whether the town should provide cooperation in the preparation, permitting or implementation of the construction of wind power plants in its cadastral territory [1]. According to Petr Knopp, the authorised representative of the referendum's preparatory committee, turnout was 37 per cent of all voters in the town, and the result is therefore binding in his view [1].
The road to the referendum
The referendum was ordered by the Regional Court in Ostrava about a month in advance. The town hall had rejected the residents' request, even though 925 people, more than a third of the voters, had signed the proposal [1]. Most councillors justified their position by a cooperation agreement and a planning agreement already concluded with the companies ČEZ and AL INVEST Břidličná for the construction of a wind park. The town's leadership said that the referendum would lead to a breach of the agreements and the town would face financial damage or penalties [1]. The court did not accept these objections; it described the referendum as a basic element of direct democracy whose holding cannot be obstructed by an overly formalistic interpretation of the law [1].
Reactions
Mayor Miroslav Kladníček of the grouping Břidličná Changes Its Face said that the town would abide by the result. He is not running for office again and the negotiations will fall to the new leadership [1]. Knopp, who headed the winning list of the grouping Břidličná Past Present Future in this year's municipal elections and is mentioned as the probable successor as mayor, said that he wants to discuss the next steps with the plant operator and with ČEZ [1][2]. By his own account, he intends to respect the result [1].
Sources
- Novinky.cz — 30 October 2026
- ČT24 — 30 October 2026