Václav Havel Library renames to 1st Presidential Library

The Václav Havel Library has officially changed its name to the 1st Presidential Library. This decision follows the withdrawal of consent from Dagmar Havlová, the widow of former President Václav Havel, to use his name. The change comes after a period of significant internal turmoil, including disputes between the staff and former director Tomáš Sedláček regarding the institution's strategic direction.

The conflict led to the resignation of nearly the entire staff and the withdrawal of major donors, such as Zdeněk and Michaela Bakal. Following the collapse of the previous management, the board of directors and supervisory board have been restructured. New members include Michael Kocáb, Miroslav Bárta, Marek Měrka, and Philip Staehelin.

While the library intends to continue developing the legacy of the former president, it will no longer participate in organizing the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, as it can no longer use his name for the project. The institution's physical address remains unchanged.