Opposition in Prague 7 wants to prevent the purchase of a new town hall through a referendum

author: CMC architects

Prague - Civic associations and opposition parties in Prague 7 are seeking to call a local referendum. They aim to prevent the purchase of a new city hall for nearly a billion crowns. Organizers informed about this in a joint press release today. The selection process has raised doubts from the start. It is also being examined by the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS).
    "If the legal conditions are met, we have no problem with calling a referendum," said the spokesman for the city district, Martin Vokuš, to ČTK. The city hall allegedly considered it itself, but due to high costs, it opted for a public opinion poll. "This cost 50,000 crowns, whereas the referendum would amount to nearly two million," he added.
    For the council to announce a referendum, organizers must gather 3,240 signatures, representing 10 percent of voters in Prague 7. Representatives of the Letná sobě association and Praguewatch, opposition parties the Green Party, TOP 09, and also KDU-ČSL, which did not make it into the council in the last elections in Prague 7, signed the call for the referendum.
    The goal of the referendum is to limit expenditures on the new city hall to 500 million crowns, to announce a new selection procedure, and also a proper architectural competition. "Such an expensive project should be decided by the citizens. This is the largest project in the history of Prague 7," said opposition councilor Ondřej Mirovský (SZ). "According to ODS and ČSSD, each resident of Prague 7 is supposed to pay 25,000 crowns from their taxes for the new city hall," he added.
    The coalition of ODS and ČSSD advocates acquiring a new building. They fear the end of the lease in the existing building on Kapitána Jaroše waterfront in 2015. "If we want to be responsible, we cannot gamble with time," said Mayor Marek Ječmének (ODS) at the last council meeting. However, the opposition disagrees. They argue that the purchase would burden the city district with debt for the next twenty to thirty years. "Prague 7 simply does not have the capacity for a billion-crown investment without massive over-indebtedness or selling off the last remaining assets," claims councilor Jiří Hejnic (TOP 09).
    According to a public opinion poll, residents would prefer that the city hall remain in the existing building. Therefore, according to the spokesman, the district leadership sought to extend the lease or buy the building from the Ministry of Finance. However, negotiations were unsuccessful. "Citizens want the building to be as inexpensive as possible, which is also key for us," said the spokesman. However, building a city hall for 500,000 crowns is reportedly unrealistic.