Praha 1 rejected the competition for the monument of Milada Horáková

Prague - Prague 1 refused to order an architectural competition for the statue of Milada Horáková. During today’s vote in the city council, mainly councilors from the ODS abstained, who suggested modifying the proposal. Councilor Martin Jan Stránský, who presented the proposal, wants to look for other ways to erect the monument.
    The monument should be placed in front of the Chamber of Deputies at the intersection of Sněmovní and Thunovské streets. It was originally considered to be erected in Vrchlického Sady, but this was not favored by, for example, the Department of Development of the Capital City due to planned repairs of the park.
    The councilors were supposed to decide today on the conceptual design of the monument. According to Stránský, the authorities that will comment on its placement want to know its appearance, size, or composition. However, they have already preliminarily agreed on the land in front of the Chamber, added Stránský.
    The approval of the proposal in the city council was missing two votes. Some councilors criticized that it was unclear whether the municipality might ultimately have to cover not only the competition but also the construction of the monument. Stránský rejected this, stating that he has promised contributions from various donors. Mayor Oldřich Lomecký said that announcing the architectural competition would "in no case mean that Prague 1 commits to being the investor."
    Councilor Jan Votoček expressed very critical views on the proposal. "I do not see this as something positive, but as an advertising campaign by Dr. Stránský, which the municipality should pay for," he commented on the presented document. Stránský rejected this, claiming that he does not intend to run in local elections.
    According to Stránský's earlier statements, the monument should be life-sized. Along with Stránský, the Club of Dr. Milada Horáková is also striving for the creation of the monument.
    The lawyer and national socialist deputy Horáková (1901-1950) participated in anti-Nazi resistance and was imprisoned in concentration camps for it. In 1949, she was arrested and in June 1950 sentenced in a fabricated trial to death and executed. According to the then indictment, she was preparing, as the head of a conspiratorial center, a return to capitalism, collaborating with other "traitors of the regime" and passing important information to hostile agents.
    In honor of Horáková, a monument with a bust was also created in Prague in 2009 in a park at Hrdinů Square in Prague 4, near the prison and court building.