Some Karlovy Vary politicians are opposing the issue of a referendum

Karlovy Vary - Some political parties and movements in Karlovy Vary have begun to define themselves against the issue of a local referendum taking place this weekend. The residents of the spa town will decide whether they want to replace the current Vřídelní colonnade with a replica from the late 19th century and halt emergency repairs on the current colonnade.

The local organization KDU-ČSL announced that they would not vote in the referendum. "A potential 'yes' would jeopardize the operation of the existing colonnade until the new one is built. The construction of a replica of the historical colonnade is not well thought out and could endanger the capture of the Vřídlo and the surrounding spa operations; it could be unacceptably costly," stated the members of KDU-ČSL in their statement. They would prefer a thorough hydrogeological survey of the Vřídlo, the repair of technological facilities, and the renewal of capture wells, followed by an architectural competition for a new Vřídelní colonnade.

Similarly, members of the Karlovaráci movement positioned themselves against the change in the referendum. According to Josef März, a potential "yes" would bind the current and future leadership of the city to the construction of a replica and there would no longer be an option to choose from multiple options. According to Hana Zemanová, halting emergency repairs, which is part of the question in the referendum, could put the city in conflict with the law. Moreover, it could endanger the Vřídlo itself and the extraction of Vřídlo water, on which a large part of the spa operations in the city relies and which constitutes a significant part of the medical care in Karlovy Vary.

However, the organizers of the referendum have called on politicians not to comment on the referendum. "Instead of presenting the facts for and against, our reasons for the cast-iron colonnade are repeatedly discredited. All efforts from the mayor are thus not directed at defending his preferred option of repair and architectural competition, but rather at destroying our reasons and confusing you voters," stated the petition committee of the referendum, which is also supported by, for example, the position of Transparency International.

The city leadership rejects this call. "Although we are politicians, we are also citizens of the city. The public knows me, and my opinion as a historian may interest someone. We do not interfere with the conduct of the referendum. But no one can stop us from expressing our opinion on how we will vote," said the Deputy Mayor Jiří Klsák (KOA) to reporters today.