Prime Minister Babiš celebrates 30th anniversary of November Revolution with V4 colleagues, and calls in his speech for discussions free from anger

On Sunday 17 November 2019, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, along with the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Four countries and other prominent guests. He laid a wreath on Národní třída, gave a speech at a ceremonial gathering at the National Museum and, after a gala luncheon at the Kramář Villa, also visited the November anniversary celebrations in Bratislava.

At the opening of this day of celebration, Prime Minister Babiš, accompanied by other members of the government, honoured the students who were beaten on 17 November 1989 by members of the emergency units during a demonstration permitted by the Communist regime, by laying a flower at the memorial on Národní třída in Prague.

Then he and his wife Monika attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the Velvet Revolution in the historic building of the National Museum, where he welcomed his colleagues from the Visegrad Four countries - Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini and President of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble.

With other guests, including Speaker of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Radek Vondráček and the Minister President of Saxony Michael Kretschmer, as well as government ministers, the Prime Minister watched a video mapping summarising events in our country’s history.

In his speech he then thanked all those who contributed to the November 1989 revolution and other milestones in Czech history - the Czech Republic's accession to NATO in 1999 and accession to the European Union in 2004. He also thanked all voters and active people who are not indifferent to the fate of our country and who contribute to its successes. He also recalled the current successful period for the Czech Republic, which is one of the leading countries, not only in the European Union, in terms of economic performance, the unemployment rate and its level of security.

“We should be proud of what we have achieved. Proud of where we are today. Thanks go to all of you who have made all this possible through your work. Through bringing up children. That together we have all succeeded in creating what we are experiencing right now. The best, the freest period of the Czech Republic that we can remember. A period that is unique in the centuries-old history of our country. And do you know what is most important? Maintaining the freedom and democracy we have won for future generations,” said the Prime Minister.

According to the Prime Minister, people should show their patriotism - pride in their country, its culture, history, landscape, nature and traditions, its achievements, heroes, talents, as well as the work of ordinary people. They should work together to make life in the Czech Republic even better.

“Let us all today wish each other, on the day of this important anniversary, every success for the future. And let us all work together for the success of our country. Without unnecessary anger, aggression and hatred. We do not always have to agree, we do not need to have the same views. But we are a wonderful country full of wonderful people who can prove to the world that in every aspect of life we can compete with the most advanced countries in the world. This is something we should all know, so let us make sure the world knows it. I keep my fingers crossed for us and our beautiful country!” the Prime Minister said in concluding his speech, the full text of which can be found at /cz/clenove-vlady/premier/projevy/projev-predsedy-vlady-andreje-babise-ke-30--vyroci-17--listopadu-1989-177870/.

With his guests the Prime Minister then took a look at the newly opened Velvet Revolution exhibition at the National Museum and , along with the other prime ministers formally opened a new passage between the old and new buildings of the National Museum, where the Moments of History multimedia exhibition has been installed.

The Prime Minister then gave a gala lunch for his guests at the Kramář Villa, visited an Open Day organised by the Office of the Government at the Liechtenstein Palace for the public holiday. (Details of the Open Day in the Liechtenstein and Hrzanký Palaces can be found in a press release) and shortly after 4 pm travelled to Bratislava.

At the invitation of the Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, he will take part in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the November Revolution in the capital of Slovakia. Both prime ministers will first place wreaths at the Gates of Freedom Memorial at Devín. Then the Prime Minister and his wife Monika will attend a gala concert on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of November 1989 at the Slovak National Theatre.