Ľubica Lacinová

One of the main problems of establishing the Green Party was that we did not realize the need for a democracy to have self-defense mechanisms. We wanted to preserve the equal opportunities and let everyone express themselves. But when there is a democracy without any self-defense or self-cleansing mechanisms, it will inevitably end up controlled by certain groups whose intentions are not always pure. We had, I think, a rule that no communists could run for our party. However, from the very beginning, there were ŠtB (State Security) agents who joined us and caused some damage. It was only later when the lustration had started that we found out about all of them. We could not have identified them, nor could we have resisted them.

“I perceived it very negatively. The first election in 1990 turned out well; we were content. Meanwhile, I got back home. It was during the time when the republic started to fall apart. I found it very difficult because I wanted Czechoslovakia to remain together. In that time, I joined multiple movements for the preservation of Czechoslovakia led by Soňa Čechová, Vlado Čech and the people from those circles. It was the movement for common Czechoslovakia; we had a similar partner organization in Prague; we kept in touch. The movement was not a part of the VPN (Public Against Violence). In that time, the VPN started to partly come to terms with the dissolution of the republic. The movement for common Czechoslovakia was organized, and Vlado Čech, the son of Soňa Čechová, was its official founder and leader. The movement cooperated with a Czech partner movement; I forgot the name; I think it was Demokraté 92 (Democrats 92). We were collecting signatures for the preservation of Czechoslovakia. Back then, we collected over a million of them. The signatures were counted in millions, however, I am not sure anymore whether it was one or two, but it was definitely several lorries filled with signature sheets that were delivered to Prague castle afterward. It took place during 1992, but maybe it started already in 1991. I think we delivered the signatures in the spring of 1992. That is the reason why we found it very difficult to hear Havel say that there was no petition against the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, because there was indeed a petition, and the signatures counted in millions. But I really do not remember if it was one or two. Even so, it went up to millions not hundreds of thousands.”