Anežka Hodinová-Spurná: A trailblazer in Czech politics born 130 years ago

Anežka Hodinová-Spurná was a fearless advocate for women’s rights and a pioneer in Czechoslovak politics. Born 130 years ago, she was one of the founders of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, serving multiple terms in the National Assembly and rising to the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Beyond politics, she was active in the peace movement and joined the exiled Czechoslovak State Council during World War II.

Anežka Hodinová presented as a candidate in a Communist newspaper|Photo: Muzeum dělnického hnutí/e-Sbírky, National Museum in Prague, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED

Hodinová-Spurná was a woman of paradoxes and bold choices. Historian Denisa Nečasová describes her as a "state builder, staunch defender of the weak, left-wing feminist, and enthusiastic communist." She challenged societal norms with her personal life, including divorce and remarriage to a man 11 years her junior, and fought tirelessly for justice and equality.

From Humble Beginnings to Political Heights

Born on January 12, 1895, in the village of Doubravice near Litovel, Hodinová-Spurná’s upbringing shaped her leftist ideals. She entered politics in 1918 with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers’ Party, later co-founding the Communist Party in 1921. Elected to the National Assembly in 1929, her influence grew rapidly.

Photographs from the early 1960s. Anežka Hodinová Spurná in the middle, editors L. Šneková, J. Votavová, O. Bednářová (top right), bottom Zdeněk Nejedlý|Photo: APF Czech Radio

In 1938, tasked by her party, she emigrated to Great Britain. There, she chaired the Czechoslovak Women’s Club and became a member of the exiled State Council. Returning home after the war, she resumed her political career with vigour. She held key roles in the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Provisional National Assembly, and later the Constituent National Assembly, in which she served as vice-chairwoman after 1948. She continued as a deputy until her death on April 1, 1963.

A Complex Legacy

Hodinová-Spurná was also a leader in the women’s movement, chairing the Committee of Czechoslovak Women from 1952 to 1963. However, her unyielding dedication and public presence earned her a reputation as a relentless functionary. Her sharp, shrill voice and distinctive speech style are preserved in recordings, including addresses to exiled compatriots in London.

A speech by Anežka Hodinová-Spurná at the assembly of the Defenders of Peace movement|Photo: Czech Television