In Brno, they are voting on the placement of the statue of Joseph II, which is currently in Černovice

The idea of placing Joseph II. in the square was initiated by the Brno-center district. The city's leadership decided to construct a model and announce a poll.

The monument once stood at Moravské náměstí in front of the now-defunct German House. It was torn down in 1919. The statue of Joseph II. was buried for a long time in the city’s slaughterhouse grounds, then it stood at the Faculty of Architecture, and since 1988 it has been in Černovice. The stone pedestal has not survived, and two side sculptures are in the park in Lužánky.

"The statue is divided, dispersed, and placed in inappropriate locations. We want this monument to be restored, and we are looking for a suitable space in the historic center of Brno," said Brno-center councilor Michal Doležel (for Žít Brno) to ČTK.

The proposal also has its opponents, who point out, for example, Joseph II's harsh stance against certain religious orders or the monument's connection to the former German-speaking Brno community. They also draw attention to the size of the monument.

"Personally, I believe that the volume is too large for Dominikánské náměstí," said Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL). Instead of the statue of Joseph II., he would prefer a fountain on Dominikánské náměstí that would remind of the original name of the space - Fish Market.

"I rely on the opinion of the prominent historian Milena Flodrová that such a statue does not belong there; it has no relation to that place," added Hladík. Joseph II. could stand in Lužánky, where the statues of Trade and Tolerance, which originally adorned the pedestal of the monument, are already located. Joseph II. founded Lužánky park.

"The statue could be placed anywhere, but if we are to discuss a dignified location that respects the dignity of the personality depicted by the statue, then Lužánky as a park on the outskirts of the center is not a suitable location," reacted Doležel. According to him, another suitable place could be Moravské náměstí, where the statue originally stood in front of the German House.

Those interested can vote on the statue's location on the Brno iD website or at the information center in Domini park on Panenská street.