Over 55,000 Czechs back renaming of airport after late ex-president

More than 55,000 Czechs – both at home and living abroad – have added their signatures to a call for Prague’s international airport to be renamed after the late ex-president Václav Havel. According to the news website idnes.cz, the idea has received backing even from Mr Havel’s family. However, Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek, whose office supervises the airport’s board of directors, said a thorough debate was needed before a decision could be reached. Former president Václav Havel died at the age of 75 on December 18 after a protracted illness. In neighbouring Poland, the northern city of Gdansk named one of its streets after Mr Havel on December 23, the day of his funeral.

Author: Jan Richter