New Commemorative Bench in Prague Met with Criticism for Wasted Money

A new bench has been installed in Prague to honor a Czech politician, but locals and experts have reacted negatively, calling it a “terrible waste of money”.

Prague 15 proudly announced on social media the unveiling of a bench-shaped monument dedicated to Antonín Švehla, a native of Hostivař and a member of the Agrarian Party.

However, the public’s response has been far from positive. Artist Pavel Karous considers the failure to hold a competition for the design to be the biggest mistake.

“Come to Hostivař and take a seat on the newly inaugurated Švehla bench,” the Prague 15 municipality invited via a Facebook post on Sunday, marking the 150th anniversary of Antonín Švehla’s birth and the 90th anniversary of his passing.

Švehla was a politician during the First Republic.

“In honor of this remarkable individual, a bench was unveiled yesterday on the banks of the Botič River, nestled among mature trees. Alongside it, an information board has been erected to commemorate the life of this man.”

Unattractive, impractical, and nondescript

However, individuals who commented on the post expressed their dissatisfaction with this new addition to the public space. Apart from its aesthetics, they particularly criticize its impracticality.

They believe that the shapeless metal silhouette of Švehla will become uncomfortably hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.