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.[1] He led the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and played a major role in the transition of Czechoslovakia from communism to democracy.[1][2] 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 conservatives and anti-communists point out that Havel allowed key Czech institutions to remain under communist control even after the Velvet Revolution.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Václav Havel. Prague Castle. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ↑ Tzu, Sun (December 23, 2011). Czechs Bid Farewell to Vaclav Havel. Breitbart News. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ↑ Bohon, Dave (December 20, 2011). Hold the Presses on Glowing Vaclav Havel Eulogies. The New American. Retrieved February 6, 2018.