Referendum on Freud in Prague 1: low turnout, majority against

Prague - Very low participation accompanied today’s street referendum on whether a statue of the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud should stand in the so-called Goat Square in Prague 1. Just slightly more than one-twentieth of the residents in the area voted. Three-quarters of them opposed the statue's location, said mayor Petr Hejma (ODS) to reporters. Despite the fact that the voting would be valid with a majority participation, the city hall wants to advocate for the people's opinion.
   "I will convey the result to Mayor Pavel Bém. We will present the negative opinion in some way and emphasize that the statue should not be there,” said the mayor. The council of the first city district will express its stance at the beginning of next week. At that time, the official results of the voting will also be known.
   City hall representatives were surprised by the low turnout of residents in the street referendum. Only 258 people participated, which is about 5.7 percent of eligible voters. Nevertheless, the office will continue to organize popular votes on local matters, said councilor Filip Dvořák (ODS).
   The intention of the city to erect a statue in Goat Square between Old Town Square and Haštalské Square might be hard for the leadership of Prague 1 to influence. Hejma stated that he would also inform the city hall about a petition against the statue, which was signed by about 160 people and organized by the well-known activist and goat breeder Stanislav Penc. Penc protested against the city's plan on the square with goats. The petition was the city's prompt for organizing the referendum.
   Even in the afternoon, the election commissioners believed that at least half of the people would show up. The room on Masná Street was equipped almost the same as during actual elections. Commissioners marked people off the list who had to present their identity cards. They received an envelope and a ballot with the question. They also had to go behind a privacy screen.
   The commissioners admitted that some residents were confused by the question. Because it was phrased negatively, those who disagreed with the statue's placement had to mark "yes." This is also why explanatory posters were hung on the walls.
   "I have nothing against Freud, but it doesn't belong in Goat Square. I would rather see goats there," said Ivana Nováková, one of the voting residents, to ČTK. Radka Erbenová was equally categorical, stating that a statue should not be in the space under any circumstances. "It's nonsense," she emphasized. Others, on the other hand, supported the idea. "The proposal is well done, the location may not be happy, but there are worse ones,” stated another voter.
   The statue, which is expected to cost about one million crowns, was designed by Michal Gabriel. It depicts a scientist sitting at a table, with another table on top of it featuring a seated figure. According to critics, the sculpture is good, but it should be located elsewhere.

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> Prague 1 wants to know people's opinion on the placement of Freud's statue | 23.03.2007