OPONA, o.p.s (“The Curtain”, a public benefit corporation) presents a new project called TUESDAYS offering a discussion platform for public figures and the wider public. The aim of the debates is to make opinions on political and social issues clearer in both recent and historical contexts.
The first discussion topic is the appointment of Jiří Pernes, the director of The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. The diverse opinion poles are represented by journalists Jan Macháček and Jan Urban.

The historian Jiří Pernes took up the post of 'ÚSTR' director early in April this year. His appointment raised controversial reactions from politicians and the general public. His opponents and supporters set off a chaotic discussion in the media. For those who aren’t content solely with the information brought forth by the media, TUESDAYS, on May 4th, offers them a unique opportunity to form a more educated opinion. They can find answers to questions about which personal qualities the chief of the state institution researching our totalitarian past should have and whether or not he should hold a pronounced opinion on communism. Further questions discussed are; should professional qualifications make a difference and what weight should a candidate`s personal history and attitude during the totalitarian era carry? In the end, we can form our own conclusions on how Jiří Pernes comes through on those criteria.

The aim of the moderators, represented by delegates of Opona o.p.s., Martin Kotas and Jan Horník, will be to provoke the speakers into a thorough and rational reasoning of their opinions. Instead of simply presenting their ideas, the speakers will be pushed to give instant reactions to their opponent`s arguments. Neutrality is not an option and will be viewed unfavorably.  Priority in joining the discussion will be given to the invited guests of well-known public figures and opportunities will also be allotted to the public.

Audio and video recordings along with the transcript of the debate will be published on our website.

Guests:
Jan URBAN
Journalist and pedagogue
“An independent specialized institution controlled by politicians in the Czech Republic is a contradiction that will never be respected and credited. The problem is not 'ÚSTR' itself, but Czech politics who has not yet grasped the fact that understanding the politics of the past cannot be abused today”. 

Jan MACHÁČEK
Journalist and musician, working for the 'Respect' weekly with daily editorials in 'Respect.cz'
“Based on the given criteria, it is not possible to find the ideal candidate. Because politicians decided that the head of the Institute must be a historian, they narrowed down their choices. This has resulted in applicants with a 'black spot' blemish in their past (for example one year of study at VUML) or they are too young and inexperienced.“

With this project, Opona continues throwing light on our totalitarian past and emphasizes the importance of continuous active participation by the public  in a functioning democratic society, supporting civic initiative and dialogue.