A month ago, Prague’s mayor Adriana Krnáčová was in Cannes, France promoting the city and holding discussions with its most prominent developers and property professionals. In an interview at MIPIM with CIJ, she complained that the current construction law and regulations surrounding the issuing of building permits was helping to drive up the prices of flats to levels that was pushing people with average wages out of town. “The construction law shouldn’t be called the construction law because it does everything possible to slow down construction or prevent it from occurring,” she said. Things were so bad, added Krnáčová, that she’d set up a working group to re-write the construction law — as if being Prague’s mayor wasn’t enough to keep her busy.
Asked point blank if she wanted to continue as mayor for a second term, she sounded determined. “Definitely. I don’t want to leave unfinished work for someone else who would mess it up.” Yesterday, Krnáčová announced her decision not to run in the upcoming Prague elections this fall. She made the usual noises about wanting to spend more time with her family. However, all the indications are that she decided to go quietly, on her own terms, rather than fighting signals from her party (ANO) and its leader Andrej Babiš that they wanted someone else.
Developers we asked informally about the mayor seemed split. Some criticize a lack of progress on key infrastructure projects in and around Prague, but with the complicated planning process and the limited powers of any Prague mayor, it’s difficult to judge exactly whose fault this is. Other developers spoke quite highly of her, praising her direct manner and support of good projects. Certainly, her official position was one of support for property development and developers. “For me developers are partners with whom we can create the city, albeit under certain conditions which have to be respected. I think the city of Prague shouldn’t play at being a developer itself, but rather make it possible for good projects to be created.” Will the next mayor be seen in Cannes next year and speak publicly about supporting developers? We’ll know more by the winter.
