Brexit is a difficult moment for England and for Europe, believes Eva Jiřičná

Source
Markéta Horešovská
Publisher
ČTK
24.06.2016 12:25
Czech Republic

Prague

Eva Jiřičná

Prague - It will be a difficult situation for England, but it will affect all of Europe, believes architect Eva Jiřičná about Brexit. She herself belongs to those whom the country has accepted and does not understand how society could change so much in its attitude towards immigrants over a few decades. Fears of them were among the main arguments for leaving the union. "I am very sorry about it, but one has to keep their head up and move on and do what they do best. I am frightened by people like (leader of the UK Independence Party) Nigel Farage and (former Mayor of London) Boris Johnson, whom I believe have no serious intentions and spread hatred," Jiřičná said today to ČTK during a trip to London.


There she has her own architectural studio, and since 1999 she has also led a studio in Prague. "All the metal elements for our stairs are manufactured in northern England. They all voted for Brexit there. And they are decent, capable people. But they see it as the country not being well-led and that Europe is dictating terms to us. When I ask what terms, they couldn't come up with a single one, but they have learned it from politicians. It is a pity," Jiřičná says.

Based on her recent experiences, she anticipated that supporters of Britain's exit from the EU would win. "Some time ago, we met on the train with four people who were not born in England – an Italian, a Frenchman, a German, and me. We talked about how it would be a catastrophe if England left, and the whole carriage rose against us. Fortunately, no one fought, but it was very uncomfortable, and at that moment I thought it was touch and go," she recalls moments before the referendum.

Jiřičná remained in Britain after the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and became a successful architect, receiving the Order of the British Empire. "I have a medal from an English organization that cares for refugees; I recently received it for my merits," she stated. According to her, it is unfortunate that people do not even realize who refugees are.

"This group has different factions. The first travels for work and is there for a while and then somewhere else. There are two million English people abroad; why shouldn’t someone else be able to move around their territory when they work there?" she asks. The second group of migrants consists of people from war-torn areas. "Every citizen in the world, whether Czech or English, when their family is in danger, will run away. These people need help. We are all responsible for how Syria ended up; it is nothing we can wash our hands of," she said.

Lastly, the architect describes a group of people, "who take advantage of the situation and escape without any papers and do nothing; they can always be found in every nation and at any time. People like Nigel Farage benefit from this; he is a person who should have his mouth sewn shut, someone without a conscience who spreads hatred, but some believe him when he says that after Brexit their children will go to new schools and bread will cost half," she says with a sigh, a woman who can associate her professional successes with the fact that Britain once accepted her.
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