“I came to the conclusion that I no longer want to be responsible for the way Václav Havel’s name is used, and I lost confidence in the current management and direction of the Library,” she said.
“I would consider it natural to provide archive, documentation, research and other materials related to my husband to a public institution, for their permanent protection, professional care and making them available to the public,” she stated.
She added that she is convinced that Václav Havel’s legacy has become part of the modern history of the Czech Republic. And it is worth taking care of.
According to her words, if an institution or a group of people appears in the future capable of creating and developing her husband’s legacy, she is ready to negotiate on granting consent to the use of her husband’s name.
The case of the Václav Havel Library
- In March 2025, the well-known economist and philosopher Tomáš Sedláček became the director of the institution, who came up with a new, more global vision of operation. However, a deep dispute soon arose between the management and the rest of the institution about the direction in which Václav Havel’s legacy should continue.
- Disagreements with the new management culminated in May 2026. Due to dissatisfaction with the way of management, almost the entire team of KVH employees resigned.
- In response to internal disputes and personnel collapse, its most important patrons turned away from the library. Financial support was completely ended by the spouses Zdeněk and Michaela Bakal. In the long term, they covered almost half of the institution’s operating costs (10 million crowns in 2024 alone).
- Co-founder and former first lady Dagmar Havlová also left the institution. Subsequently, the entire board of directors disbanded, in which David Dušek remained as the only representative.
- Despite the massive collapse of the management, the institution did not officially disappear. The administrative and supervisory boards were gradually supplemented by new members (eg Tomáš Šídl). David Dušek assumed the role of crisis manager and began negotiations with the VIZE 97 Foundation and Dagmar Havlova about the provision of personal rights. Dagmar Havlová refused everything.
