The Prague coalition is not united regarding the restoration of the Marian Column

Prague - The Prague coalition is divided in its opinion on the restoration of the Marian Column in the Old Town Square. On Tuesday, the councilors did not support the coalition proposal from the culture councilor Jan Wolf (Civic Coalition/KDU-ČSL) concerning the erection of the column. This is evident from statements made by city officials to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
    Wolf recently told the media that a replica of the Baroque monument could again stand in the center of Prague as early as next year. However, most of the council did not raise their hands in favor of his proposal, which concerned archaeological research of the Old Town Square prior to the erection of the column. The outcome of the research is, in fact, the last document necessary to obtain a building permit.
    "We are fundamentally against it, and we properly presented this yesterday (on Tuesday)," deputy mayor Petr Dolínek (Social Democrats) wrote to ČTK in a text message. "The architectural survey should take place only when construction is being considered. For me personally, it would be a waste of money at this point," expressed mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) through a spokesperson.
    Wolf, however, told ČTK that he is not giving up on the idea. "I believe I can convince my coalition colleagues that this is the right thing to do," he stated.
    This week marks the second occasion where a wave of criticism has been directed at a coalition colleague from the Social Democrats. On Monday, Dolínek rejected Wolf’s idea for singer Daniel Landa to write the anthem for the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of Charles IV's birth. He described it as scandalous and incomprehensible.
    The Marian Column became a symbol of the victory of the Catholic Church over the Protestants in the Czech lands. It stood near the site of the execution of representatives of the Czech estates' resistance, which took place in 1621. After the declaration of Czechoslovakia's independence in November 1918, the column was pulled down by a crowd.
    The erection of the column has stirred strong emotions in Prague for years. Historians and heritage protectors are not united regarding its restoration. Opponents consider the column a symbol of the post-Battle of White Mountain period, the darkest time in Czech history. According to some, it is a reminder of the violent recatholicization of the country and retrogression.