Social Democrat leader backs Kaplický project

The leader of the opposition Social Democrats Jiří Paroubek met with architect Jan Kaplický on Friday to express support for his avant garde design for the new national library, a building originally planned for Prague’s Letná Plain nicknamed “the Octopus” or “the Blob”. The project came to a standstill after objections were voiced by City Hall, including the mayor, and disputes emerged over funding as well as zoning on the original property. On Friday, Mr Paroubek said that if his party were in government the building would receive the 3 to 4 billion crowns needed for its construction. The topic of the national library is now likely to become a heated ahead of the next elections. The head of the national library, Vlastimil Ježek, will reportedly also meet with Mr Paroubek to try and drum up new support for the stalled project.