Prague will investigate the return of the statue of Marshal Radetzky to Malostranské Square

Prague - The Prague City Hall will investigate the possible return of the statue of Austrian Marshal Radetzky to Malostranské Square. This was approved today by the city councilors. The statue stood in the square between 1858 and 1919; if restored, it would be located in the center of the lower part of the square near the tram stop, because trams run at its original location. It would not be the original statue, which is stored in the Lapidarium of the National Museum, but a copy. The coalition Pirates did not support the intention.

The city has been preparing adjustments to Malostranské Square for several years, but due to the demands of conservationists, the previous council canceled the tender for the contractor two years ago, and the new one has not yet been announced. The councilors today tasked the investment department of the city hall to ensure the completion of construction and archaeological surveys of the reconstruction regarding the placement of the monument. The Gallery of the Capital City was also tasked with preparing a study of technological and financial options for acquiring a copy of the statue and pedestal.

The intention was presented today at the council by the Deputy Mayor for Culture Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09), who advocates for the return of the statue, based on a request from the Radecky Prague Association. The approved material also includes project documentation for the monument's placement and the conclusion of a professional conference of architects, historians, and art historians from 2021, which states that the monument is a valuable work of art and its return is desirable.

According to Pospíšil, this is only the first step for a possible return of the statue. "This is not a decision that the monument will be restored," he said. Although the location of the monument has already been discussed, various options will be proposed during the subsequent investigation, based on which the councilors can then decide, he added.

The coalition Pirates are against the return of the monument. "As Pirates, we could not support this intention. It is a topic that unnecessarily divides society. Instead of addressing the future, we are dissecting the reinterpretation of the past. We see no added value in restoring monuments or supporting controversial cults of personalities," said Magdalena Valdmanová, the deputy chairwoman of the Pirate parliamentary club. She added that it would be better to use the money for the statue for things like live culture and street art or for planting trees.

The association for the restoration of the monument has also contacted the Italian embassy to see if it has any objections to the restoration considering the historical context. Radetzky, at the head of the Austrian troops, defeated Italian nationalists in the first Italian war of independence in 1848 and 1849 and subsequently became the general governor of Emperor Franz Joseph I for the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Italian Ambassador Francesco Saverio Nisio wrote to the association that the embassy will not actively support the return of the monument, but neither will it oppose it.

According to the head of Prague's ANO party Ondřej Prokop, the city should lead a broader discussion about the return. "The decision to return the statue should be the subject of a broad public debate that takes into account various perspectives - of experts and the public. The city leadership should be sensitive to how residents perceive such symbols and how they affect public space," he stated.

Austrian Marshal Radetzky of Radče was a Czech nobleman and is considered one of the best military commanders of the 19th century. The Marshal's monument by Professor Christian Ruben and sculptors Josef and Emanuel Max was unveiled in Malostranské Square in 1858. It stood there until 1919, when it was dismantled and stored in the Lapidarium. The base was later removed as well. The monument was originally located in the southeastern part of Malostranské Square, which looked significantly different at the time than it does today.