The Marian Column will apparently return to Old Town Square

Prague - The Marian Column is likely to return to Prague's Old Town Square in the form of a replica created by sculptor Petr Váňa. Today, city councilors revoked an earlier negative stance of the city, which had prevented the sculptor from obtaining final approval for the column's placement. The proposal was put forward by Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL) along with Jiří Pospíšil and Jan Chabr (both TOP 09). The installation of the replica was supported by the majority of councilors from the United Forces for Prague (TOP 09, STAN, and KDU-ČSL), ODS, and ANO. Opposing were the Pirates and part of the Prague Sobě councilors. The column from the 17th century was toppled by a crowd in 1918, as they viewed it as a symbol of the Habsburg monarchy.

Wolf has long advocated for the return of the column, and the city council has rejected this multiple times in the past. The approved resolution cancels the original negative stance of the councilors from 2017. The city council has also been tasked with ensuring cooperation with the Technical Communication Administration, which must provide the necessary space for the column to be placed. Váňa has been working on the replica since 2008 and last year attempted unsuccessfully to begin its installation in the square, which was prevented by the police due to the lack of space allocation.

Following today's vote, Wolf stated that the column should be erected in the square within six months after the extension of the building permit. Sculptor Váňa indicated to ČTK that the construction of the column's foundations in Old Town Square and the final assembly of the stone blocks should take four months.

The placement was opposed by councilors from the Pirates and part of the Prague Sobě club. "We cannot just place such a work of art in the most valuable square in the Czech Republic without knowing that it has such values and deserves to be placed in such a location," said the mayor's deputy, Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě). He added that there is an evaluation from art and architecture historians stating that the column should not stand in the square and that the councilors should respect their opinion.

Chairman of the Pirates club, Viktor Mahrik, stated that he is against the placement of the column because it clearly divides society. "From my perspective, this is to some extent a symbol of the defeat of tolerance," said Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates). He added that Old Town Square needs to be addressed comprehensively, and the city will soon start addressing the reconstruction of the eastern wing of the Old Town Hall destroyed during the war.

The discussion about the column's return has been ongoing since the 1990s. Proponents of its restoration consider it a symbol and remembrance of those who defended Prague during the Thirty Years' War and a significant Baroque artwork. Opponents view it as a symbol of Habsburg domination and intolerant recatholicization of the country.