Czechia increases pensions for people who fought against the Communist regime
As the country approaches the 35th anniversary of Velvet Revolution of 1989, hundreds of dissidents have seen their income rise by an average of 4,400 Czech Crowns.
It is often said that the winner takes it all. But many people in Czechia who had actively fought against the totalitarian regime before 1989 were disadvantaged in their old age. Their pensions were affected by imprisonment by the communist authorities or the fact that they could not work in better-paid positions. The administrative system works in such a way that they often received pensions well below national average. Last year, this issue was highlighted by former dissidents Jiří Gruntorád and John Bok through a protest and hunger strike. Subsequently, the parliament passed a law that raised the pensions of pre-November dissidents by an average of 4,400 crowns. An important role in deciding these pension adjustments is played by the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. Its director is Ladislav Kudrna:
“Currently, together with my colleagues at the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, we are preparing a list of individuals or their relatives who have not yet applied for recognition as participants in the anti-communist resistance. It surprises me that there are actually significant figures who, to this day, haven’t requested this recognition. I’m pleased that we can do it on their behalf if we receive their consent. And if we get that consent, we will gladly carry it out, and I’m glad that dissidents from across the country, who haven’t applied until now, are reaching out to us. You know, it’s not a straightforward administrative process, and we’re often dealing with people over 80 years old.”
So, how many people are we talking about?
“I think in this case, it will only be individuals, the total number will be in the low tens at most. So, the number won’t increase significantly. If it does increase, including the current 430 we have mentioned, I believe we’ll reach just over 500 people.”
On Sunday, it will be 35 years since the start of the so-called Velvet Revolution. How is it possible that these issues are still unresolved. That for 35 years the fighters against the communist regime have been overlooked?
“That’s an excellent question that probably should be directed at someone else. I remember November 17, 1989, clearly; I was 14 years old and a freshman in high school. Of course, it’s late, but better late than never. I believe that justice is never too late. I like to say that the past is always ahead of us, and there are values that cannot be measured in money. Justice is never too late, and the past is always ahead of us, and I would like to thank all my colleagues at our institution who have done great work both in terms of pension adjustments and the pensions reduced for former officials of the Communist regime.”
This step is intended to right a bitter irony: since old age pensions are calculated from the pay the concrete person received before retiring, many senior officials of the pre-1989 regime who retired just after the fall of Communism had pensions significantly higher than people who bravely fought against them and were often imprisoned. Even now, 35 years after the fall of Communism, this injustice needs to be dealt with. Ladislav Kudrna explains that the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes is currently finalizing a draft law to be submitted in January next year, which will significantly expand the list of prominent figures who should have their pensions at least symbolically reduced
“This includes the leadership of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, meaning members of the Central, Control, and Revision Commissions of the Party, department heads in the state administration of the Central Committee, chiefs of People’s Militia headquarters in the regions and districts, district and regional secretaries, ideological secretaries of district and regional Communist Party Committees, and senior operatives in the State Security Service, especially those involved in internal enemy operations. So, we’re talking about approximately two to two and a half thousand living individuals.”
“It makes sense because, as I said, justice is never too late, and it’s good to know our heroes, just as it’s good to know that every evil has its specific face.”
