Czech conservatives simulate artistic taste

For a long time the governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS) was dead set against the construction of a new national library in Prague designed by the late UK-based Czech architect Jan Kaplický. Now in the run-up to the country's local elections the party - like the top candidates of the other parties - suddenly approves of the project, which enjoys high popularity among the population. The liberal daily Pražský deník criticises the opportunism of the Civic Democrats: "This case shows how political power - or the lack of political will - can change over time. All it takes is one unsuccessful election and politicians revise their attitudes to lure voters. And let's face it, that was exactly what Kaplický couldn't stand: authoritarian political intervention in artistic debates, as if the politicians' mandates also invested them with artistic understanding and good taste. ... Certainly it's a good thing if everyone wants the library now. But it's also rather strange."

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