The Academic Senate of the Faculty of Architecture of CTU opposed the possible dismissal of the director of IPR

Prague - The Academic Senate of the Faculty of Architecture at Czech Technical University (CTU) opposed the possible dismissal of the director of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), Petr Hlaváček. This was revealed to ČTK from a statement by the senate addressed to the mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO). The city leadership has been discussing Hlaváček's possible dismissal in recent weeks. Employees of IPR have already supported the director, and a petition against his dismissal has also been created.

"We urge the Council of the Capital City of Prague to reconsider the potential intention to dismiss architect Hlaváček from this position and, in light of the aforementioned facts, we express our full professional, civic, and human support for him," the statement reads. According to senate members, Hlaváček is an expert who is capable of "leading discussions and bridging often opposing viewpoints and opinions on the further direction of the metropolis."

Deputy Mayor Petra Kolínská (SZ/Trojkoalice) stated on Tuesday that the decision on the possible dismissal will be based on the quality of the IPR's new zoning plan. The institute submitted the plan to the city on Tuesday, and it is currently being assessed by municipal officials to determine if it is acceptable from a legal perspective, among other things. Mayor Krnáčová has criticized the functioning of the IPR in recent months, having commissioned an audit of the institution.

Those in support of Hlaváček also include employees of the IPR, and a petition in his support has been organized by, among others, the initiative "Libeňský most Nebourat, Nerozšiřovat," which has been signed by nearly 1700 people in just a few days.

The IPR was formed through the transformation of the City Development Department under Mayor Tomáš Hudeček (independent, then TOP 09). The institute's task includes preparing a new zoning plan and planning the development of the city. The IPR profiles itself as a professional workplace focused on research activities in the fields of architecture, urbanism, development, creation, and management of the city. Its annual budget is about 300 million crowns.