Former Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who died on Saturday at the age of 85, was a symbol of the return of freedom, democracy and traditional European values to the Czech Republic, said MEP X and former TOP 09 chairman Pospíšil on the social network. Other politicians of the ruling party, which held an election meeting on Saturday, share their memories of the honorary chairman of TOP 09 Schwarzenberg.
“For me, he has always been a symbol of the return of freedom, democracy and other traditional European values to our country. A great honor to his memory. His personality, ideas and incredible insight will be greatly missed,” said Pospíšil, who led TOP 09 between 2017 and 2019.
Newly elected party vice-chairman Matěj Ondřej Havel https://twitter.com/m_o_havel/status/1723575785900880335, that Schwarzenberg will be his inspiration for the rest of his life. “He was one of the most important post-revolutionary politicians and the greatest characters of our nation,” he wrote.
The former head of the Elders and Independents (STAN) Petr Gazdík, whose movement worked closely with TOP 09 in the past, https://twitter.com/petrgazdik/status/1723576417865125913 about Schwarzenberg as one of the greatest statesmen and visionaries he met in his life. “He taught us that ‘you have to help yourself’. A wise, kind, noble and perceptive person. He had a fulfilled life. May he rest in peace,” he said.
A number of party politicians mentioned Schwarzenberg in their speeches at the TOP 09 congress on Saturday. The original program included his appearance, which, however, did not take place due to the health condition of the first chairman of TOP 09.
He died surrounded by his family
About the death of one of the most prominent figures of Czech post-war politics on X https://twitter.com/kalousekm/status/1723513617151078604 his political companion Miroslav Kalousek. For the past few days, Schwarzenberg, whose death was also reported by the Echo24 website, was hospitalized in Vienna. According to Echo24, he died on Saturday.
“Karel Schwarzenberg died… I knew it was coming, but it’s still a blow. He was one of the most important and kindest people in my life. May he rest in peace, the Czech Republic should be forever grateful to him for everything he selflessly performed for her,” said TOP 09 co-founder and ex-minister of finance Kalousek.
The Echo24 server, citing a source from Schwarzenberg’s family, wrote that the politician had been in critical condition and in artificial sleep for the past two days. “He passed away surrounded by family,” the website also said.
Tags: symbol freedom kindest person politicians react Schwarzenbergs death
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