He and his wife Marta are bothered by the current split, which according to them brings the topic of the epidemic to society and specifically the issue of vaccination. “Our view has also evolved in this direction. From the beginning, we took covid a little less seriously. Now we are both vaccinated and consider it a more reasonable choice of both options. But we don’t take it fanatically, “said Marta, adding that she also considered the problems in the fight against infectious disease to be the result of” inconsistent “policies by the old government.

In addition to the mainstream celebrations at Národní, various accompanying events took place in a number of places in the center in the form of theater performances, debates and the like. The presence of crowds in the streets was also used by various initiatives. One, for example, promoted the adoption of the euro through the information stand, another fought against private executors.

Already after noon, supporters of the Million Moments arrived in the Old Town Square, followed by the initiative Chcípl PES, which is against “coronavirus restrictions”. “We have created a human chain to support political prisoners in Belarus. And the nationalists who come to their demonstration asked us why we are wasting energy to help foreigners, “said Mrs. Blažena, a supporter of a million moments, who came from Pilsen. “I go to Prague every year on November 17th. And this year I enjoyed it above standard. For example, the mood of the nascent political representation, which did not growl when laying candles at Národní, increased my mood, unlike in previous years, “she added.

During the rally in the Old Town Square, the police repeatedly called on the organizers to fulfill their duty and ensure that the participants complied with anti-epidemic measures.

– Police of the Czech Republic (@PolicieCZ) November 17, 2021

Thousands of people gathered on Wenceslas Square in Prague, where the traditional Concert for the Future began in the afternoon. The organizers dedicate part of the program of the five-hour event to the memory of the first Czech President Václav Havel, who died ten years ago this year. On the topic of waste landfilling, the impact of palm oil production on nature and criticism of children’s institutional care, this year the customers of the satirical carnival procession Velvet Enlightenment in Prague. This year’s motto was “the power of the midnight”.

The anniversary celebrations also attracted many young people who were born after the year of the Velvet Revolution. “I am here for freedom. It is very important to me that we can say what we want. In recent years, this freedom is more threatened due to the influx of misinformation from the eastern direction, “said Matěj Zavadil from Prague 4. His partner Nikola Chocholová from Kobylis is” left-wing “and considers global capitalism to be a threat to democracy. “But we both agree that global warming is a major long-term threat. And with that in mind, we do not look to the future with great optimism, “added Nikola.

According to the former dissident Dana Němcová, who took over the Old Town Honorary Citizenship of Prague on Tuesday, the legacy of November 1989 will be alive even in 50 years, it may seem that awareness of it is generally weakening. “Some (young people) are interested in it and others are not. In the case of children, that interest may come later. It is never too late. The point is not to forget those values. Why it all happened, “Němcová told the Prague daily after signing the metropolis commemorative book.

Later in the afternoon at the Slavia Café, the actress Dagmar Havel presented a new bust of her husband Václav Havel, who died ten years ago. “I hope this bust never ends in the Lapidary, just as freedom and democracy never end there,” said the widow of the Velvet Revolution leader and the first president after the restoration of democracy. At Havel’s portrait, the famous Irish musician Glen Hansard subsequently sang a song by Jaroslav Hutka Havlíček Havel in an original Czech-English performance. Hansard was also the main star of the traditional concert for the future on Wenceslas Square.