Tributes pour in on death of Karel Schwarzenberg

Tributes have been pouring in for former foreign minister, senator and honorary chairman of TOP 09 party Karel Schwarzenberg, who died in Vienna on Sunday at the age of 85.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala described Mr. Schwarzenberg as an important personality of the Czech exile and Czech politics of the last decades, and said he was honoured to sit with him in the Government.

According to Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Mr. Schwarzenberg was one of the greatest political figures of our time and his passing is an irreplaceable loss for the whole society.

Former TOP 09 chairman and co-founder Miroslav Kalousek, said the party’s honorary chairman was one of the most important and kindest people in his life, adding that Czechia should be forever grateful to him for all he selflessly did for the country.

According to the current head of TOP 09, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, said Mr Schwarzenberg has had a profound influence on her life and left a legacy that is immortal and has to be carried on.