<CzechInsurance> Czech Insurance promised 50 million for Charles Bridge, gave five </CzechInsurance>

Prague - Česká pojišťovna promised the capital city 50 million crowns for the repair of Charles Bridge five years ago, on the condition that Prague sells her the First City Bank. This was reported today by Czech Television. Česká pojišťovna acquired the bank in 2002 but, according to the television, did not keep her word. Extensive repairs to the bridge are set to begin in the fall.
According to ČT, the Prague mayor received a letter in 2001 in which then-member of the board Jan Blažko wrote, among other things, that the insurance company had formulated a goodwill step to support its offer - it decided to establish a foundation for the reconstruction of Charles Bridge and invest 50 million in it in case of successful participation in the tender.
Česká pojišťovna bought the city bank and thus outbid two other candidates. However, it only invested one-tenth of the promised amount - five million crowns - into the Karlův most foundation, ČT stated.
The spokesperson for the insurance company explained that it had not yet been familiarized with the project for the repair of Charles Bridge, which would be covered by experts and would thus guarantee that financial resources from both private and public funds would be used effectively.
The television reported that the condition of project purposefulness was not mentioned at all in the written promise of the insurance company. According to the lawyers consulted, the city could allegedly enforce the promise. The current Prague mayor Pavel Bém did not want to comment on the case. His predecessor Jan Kasl remembers the insurance company's commitment and confirmed it to ČT.
Charles Bridge was last reconstructed at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s; the necessity to repair the bridge again has been discussed since at least 1996, ČT reminded.