President Zeman reprimanded the mayor of Karlovy Vary for the Imperial Spa

Karlovy Vary - President Miloš Zeman today reprimanded the mayor of Karlovy Vary, Petr Kulhánek (KOA), during his visit to the Karlovy Vary region for the city's failure to repair the Imperial Baths. However, the property belongs to the Karlovy Vary region, which withdrew from the association that was tasked with renovating the nationally protected monument at the turn of the year.

"I would like to thank those who take care of Hartenberg Castle and scold those who, like Mayor Kulhánek, do not take care of the Imperial Baths. I am therefore glad that the region has ultimately decided to repair the Imperial Baths on its own," said Zeman today before the regional councilors and mayors.

When the mayor asked the president where his information came from, Zeman referred to the governor, Jana Vildumetzová (ANO).

"From my perspective, this is a low blow, regardless of where the information originated. Those who know me are aware of how many years and time I have devoted to preparing the renovation, and mainly that it was brought to completion so that reconstruction could begin in the spring," Kulhánek told ČTK. He added that it was not the city that halted the entire process.

The new regional government in the Karlovy Vary region immediately upon its arrival adjusted the originally prepared budget and cut 200 million from it for the Imperial Baths. The region also withdrew from the association of legal entities for the Imperial Baths, which included the city and the region and had already announced a competition for the contractor.

The Karlovy Vary region then took over the successor rights from the association and took the preparation of the renovation into its own hands. Governor Vildumetzová then clarified before Zeman that the city promised 100 million crowns as its share for the renovation of the baths. According to the original agreement, the city was to contribute 100 million, the region 200 million, about 130 million from the Integrated Regional Development Program for Karlovy Vary, and the remainder was promised by the state.

However, there is now a possibility that more than five million euros (approximately 130 million crowns) could come from European funds for the repair of the Imperial Baths. This would reduce the city's and the region's contributions. However, it would likely be necessary to adjust the renovation project again.