The Czech Foreign Minister, Petr Macinka, has officially rejected the hosting of the “Sudeten German Day” event in the Czech Republic. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Brno (Brünn) for the first time since Pentecost.
In speaking to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Macinka deemed the potential gathering to be a “very unfortunate development”. He accused Bernd Posselt, the chairman of the Sudeten German Association, of underestimating the actual impact of the event. Macinka further criticized the movement, stating that it seems based on wishes and is linked to a non-governmental organization that is not highly respected in Czech society.
He noted that the reaction across Czech society is mixed: a large portion is indifferent, while the remainder is opposed. Macinka emphasized that the prevailing sentiment, particularly among older citizens, is resistance to the event taking place in Brno, assuring the public that the organizers are not radical.
Furthermore, the Bohemian government in Prague has rejected the meeting. A declaration on the issue is expected to be passed in Parliament this week.
Macinka also predicted that Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (both from the CSU) would struggle to have a pleasant time in Brno. However, he clarified that his comments were not aimed at Germany or the country’s overall “excellent relations”.
