In an unprecedented display of parliamentary endurance, Czech opposition deputy of Japanese descent, Tomio Okamura, delivered an 11-hour continuous speech in the parliament on Thursday.
Okamura, the leader of the opposition movement affiliated with the Socialist Democratic Party, shattered the previous record he set last year for the longest speech in the Czech Chamber of Deputies, which was 7 hours and 7 minutes.
His speech on Thursday lasted a staggering 10 hours and 44 minutes.
The politician commenced his address at 9 a.m. After four hours, he requested permission from the president to remove his jacket, and two hours later, he asked for water to be brought to him.
Had the regulations permitted, Okamura could have continued speaking until the morning, but as the clock struck 9 p.m., the debate was adjourned until the following day.
In his marathon speech, Okamura surpassed the former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who, during his re-election as president of the country in February 1998, spoke to parliamentarians for 7 hours and 15 minutes without interruption.
This feat by Okamura highlights the intense dedication and resilience in the realm of political discourse and sets a new benchmark in parliamentary history.
