<Formánek in ČT: The Přerov Commune was a monument only to revolution>

Prague - The Prerov Community House, known as Komuna, was declared a monument based on purely revolutionary values, former Deputy Minister of Culture František Formánek stated today on Czech Television. Allegedly, the building had no other historical significance. The house, which was to be replaced by a shopping center, was demolished by workers. Formánek advocated for the removal of the monument protection, which the owner of the building evidently sought as well. The Ministry of Culture has been unable to reverse the decision.
"Back in 1963, Komuna was declared a monument for revolutionary reasons. I believe that these values, or this reasoning, have already passed," Formánek said in the program Events, Comments on Czech Television.
He admitted that he does not agree with the demolition either. "As a citizen and as an architect, I would always be in favor of preserving that building," Formánek stated. The house was supposed to be removed from the list of monuments, but not demolished. According to studies, the building was meant to be part of a larger whole, which would not be possible if it were monumentally protected, he asserted.
The workers' house from the early 20th century was the center of party life, proletarian physical education, and cultural, theatrical, and musical components of the party in the Prerov district. The initiative to cancel the monument protection of the Prerov Community House was made once before, in 1996. At that time, it was argued that it is a monument of the labor movement, and therefore the protection needed to be revoked. However, the ministry stated that it is also an interesting piece of architecture important for the region. After ten years, the initiative came again, and the monument protection was lifted.
Formánek's name is mainly known as the reason for the resignation of Culture Minister Helena Třeštíková - she did not want to engage him back in the office solely based on political agreements. There is also speculation about Formánek as the person who secured the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies for Mirek Topolánek's (ODS) government through two Social Democratic MPs. One of them, Miloš Melčák, was reportedly the one who recommended Formánek to the former Culture Minister Vítězslav Jandák (ČSSD) for the ministerial office. Until then, architect Formánek had worked as a political analyst; in the 90s, he founded and led the political periodical Parliamentary Bulletin.