Speech of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mirek Topolánek at the opening day of the exhibition" Karel and Nadezhda Kramář at Home"

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am glad I can open this exhibition, which gives us an opportunity to take a look into lives of Nadezhda and Karel Kramář, which is a memory of the first Czechoslovak prime minister. Just in these days, we are memorializing the 70th anniversary of his death.

It is symbolical that the Kramář´s name is connected with the prestige seat of Czech prime ministers. A piece of respect for tradition, for the history of modern statehood is included in it. The Czech Republic is a successor of ideas of founders of Czechoslovakia and Kramář belonged among them.

Karel Kramář had been a carrier politician since his youth and this term had no pejorative meaning in his case.

The famous painter Max Švabinský congratulated him on the occasion of fiftieth birthday like this: "I have always respected you much because you, as the only one of our political leaders, regard politics as your sole love, like an artist regard his art. You, as the only one sacrificed all for your profession ..."

Yes, Kramář sacrificed all for politics. For the sake of his conviction, he did not hesitate to argue with the President Masaryk or the subsequent head of the state, Beneš. He did not give up his ideas regardless problems resulting from them. Kramář was a great politician and he was an honest man. In spite of the fact that he was removed from his function, he rest engaged in politics until his death on 26th May 1937. He was member of the Parliament and of so called "The Five". He significantly participated in the reform of local governments, tax reform; he participated in preparation of laws on social and health insurance and of the new salary system of public servants.

As early as in times of Austro-Hungary, Kramář managed, thanks to his "positive policy", to strengthen position of the Czech nation in the monarchy. He negotiated number of concessions out of the Austrian government, in particular in the sphere of culture, language and economy.

Karel Kramář was a representative of modern Czech bourgeoisie. As it is seen from his legacy, he had strong social feeling, as well as sense for economic development. As the chairman of the first National Committee, he took the principal credit for formation of Czechoslovakia.

Despite of this, he remains a bit neglected personality in the shadow of other founders of the state, in particular Masaryk and Beneš. I am convinced that wrongfully. He, as hardly anybody, defended his ideas, in spite of the fact they were unpopular.

I believe that this exhibition will help to discover personality of Karel Kramář and his wife, Nadezhda. That it will show this great statesman also from his human side. I thank all those who participated in organization of this exhibition.

The name of the exhibition is Karel and Nadezhda Kramář at Home. As a current tenant of the Kramář´s house, I believe that visitors will really feel at home here.