Czech politics emptying, chance for "Havlism" - Klaus in press

Klaus defines the word "Havlism," derived from the name of Vaclav Havel, former dissident and later president of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and the Czech Republic (1993-2003), as "an entirely different perception of the world" and as "a neutral analytical term."

Klaus has always been opposed to Havel's coining the slogan "love and the truth will prevail" though he thanked Havel for all that he did for the country's freedom 20 years ago.

Klaus expressed the thanks in the speech he made at a concert organised by Havel to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Communist regime on Saturday.

Klaus said the Communist regime' ideas before November 1989 were also empty and the current Czech political system is also harmed by a lack of ideas.

"There is the threat of other ideologies emerging. This is dangerous. I can again scent -isms in the air," Klaus told MfD.

In another interview for today's issue of daily Lidove noviny, Klaus said no important state-organised celebrations of November 17, the day when events that led to the fall of the Communist regime started 20 years ago, will be held because he would like people to celebrate the anniversary.

The events were triggered by a calm student march in Prague on November 17, 1989, that the Communist police brutally dispersed.

Klaus said November 17 is not much linked with the state or with Prague Castle, the presidential seat.

"That is why we decided after many consultations not to hold any showy celebrations at Prague Castle. It is very doubtful to hold a meeting of non-state representatives at Prague Castle, or on the other hand, a meeting of supreme representatives of the state many of whom had absolutely nothing in common with November 17 in my opinion," Klaus said.

Klaus said he first thought that some kind of celebrations could be held at Prague Castle.

"But last Monday, at the celebrations of the fall of the Berlin wall I was only thankful for that we did not allow anything like this in our country. The notion that the first four speeches celebrating the fall of communism in this country would be made by (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy, (Russian President Dmitri) Medvedev, (British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown and (U.S. Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton like in Berlin...When I was sitting there, I could not believe my eyes," Klaus told LN.

He mentioned Miloslav Vlcek (Social Democrats, CSSD), Chamber of Deputies chairman, a pre-November Communist party member, as one the top Czech representatives who he thinks have nothing in common with November 17.

"I dare say that Mr Vlcek is just as close to it (the fall of Communism) as Mr Sarkozy," Klaus said.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz