| − | '''Václav Havel''' (October 5, 1936 – December 18, 2011) was a Czech writer and playwright who served as the last President of [[Czechoslovakia]] and the first President of the [[Czech Republic]], serving until 2003.<ref name="PragueCastle">[https://www.hrad.cz/en/president-of-the-cr/former-presidents/vaclav-havel Václav Havel]. ''Prague Castle''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> He led the [[Velvet Revolution]] in 1989 and played a major role in the transition of Czechoslovakia from [[communism]] to democracy.<ref name="PragueCastle"/><ref>Tzu, Sun (December 23, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2011/12/23/czechs-bid-farewell-to-vaclav-havel/ Czechs Bid Farewell to Vaclav Havel]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> Along with [[Václav Klaus]] and [[Miloš Zeman]], Havel is considered one of the three most prominent figures in early post-communist Czech history. | + | '''Václav Havel''' (October 5, 1936 – December 18, 2011) was a Czech writer and playwright who served as the last President of [[Czechoslovakia]] and the first President of the [[Czech Republic]], serving until 2003.<ref name="PragueCastle">[https://www.hrad.cz/en/president-of-the-cr/former-presidents/vaclav-havel Václav Havel]. ''Prague Castle''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> He led the [[Velvet Revolution]] in 1989 and played a major role in the transition of Czechoslovakia from [[communism]] to democracy.<ref name="PragueCastle"/><ref>Tzu, Sun (December 23, 2011). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2011/12/23/czechs-bid-farewell-to-vaclav-havel/ Czechs Bid Farewell to Vaclav Havel]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> Along with [[Václav Klaus]] and [[Miloš Zeman]], Havel is considered one of the three most prominent figures in early post-communist Czech history. |
| | Despite his positive reputation, some [[conservative]]s and [[anti-communist]]s point out that Havel allowed key Czech institutions to remain under communist control even after the Velvet Revolution.<ref>Bohon, Dave (December 20, 2011). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/8918-hold-the-presses-on-glowing-vaclav-havel-eulogies Hold the Presses on Glowing Vaclav Havel Eulogies]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> | | Despite his positive reputation, some [[conservative]]s and [[anti-communist]]s point out that Havel allowed key Czech institutions to remain under communist control even after the Velvet Revolution.<ref>Bohon, Dave (December 20, 2011). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/8918-hold-the-presses-on-glowing-vaclav-havel-eulogies Hold the Presses on Glowing Vaclav Havel Eulogies]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> |