Czech parliament condemns Sudeten German convention as historical revisionism

The 76th convention of the Sudeten German Association is proceeding in Brno from May 22 to 25, despite significant political backlash and protests. The Czech Chamber of Deputies passed a non-binding declaration opposing the event, citing historical revisionism and the relativisation of Nazi crimes. Prime Minister Andrej Babis described the gathering as an "unfortunate development," while the SPD party organised demonstrations against it. Conversely, the Sudeten German Association, led by Bernd Posselt, maintains the event is for reconciliation and no longer seeks to overturn postwar expulsions. Czech President Petr Pavel has granted his patronage to the hosting Meeting Brno festival, and security is expected to be tight at the Brno Exhibition Grounds.

The motion, which was symbolic and non-binding, passed by 73 votes to none, with four abstentions. Center-right opposition parties boycotted the debate, accusing the governing coalition — which includes the far-right SPD party — of exploiting the issue for political gain. The declaration expresses opposition to the holding of the convention on Czech territory, noting that attitudes questioning the postwar settlement have long appeared within parts of the movement.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis has shifted his stance, previously describing the event neutrally as a civic initiative but now calling it "not a fortunate development." The event has also drawn protests in Brno itself. Around 500 people joined a demonstration in April organized by the SPD. The SPD is firmly opposed to the gathering and accuses Sudeten German organisations of seeking to overturn the postwar Benes decrees that confiscated German property and stripped ethnic Germans of citizenship.

Bernd Posselt, chairman of the Sudeten German Association, rejected these accusations, stating the association removed references to reparations and land reclamation from its charter in 2015. Posselt, a former MEP for Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union, told DW that the organization wanted an honest discussion of the past. He has since criticized the parliamentary declaration and insisted the gathering would go ahead.

Petr Kalousek, co-founder of Meeting Brno, argued that the gathering should have been held in Brno previously, noting that Sudeten Germans and their ancestors lived in the region for over 800 years. A local Brno city councilor voiced strong opposition, citing the destruction of interwar Czechoslovakia and the death of his grandmother, arguing that current Sudeten Germans cannot speak for those who are deceased. Brno's mayor, Marketa Vankova, has continued to back the gathering despite mounting political pressure.

Security is expected to be tight at the Brno Exhibition Grounds where the gathering is taking place. Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder and Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt are both still expected to attend. Meanwhile, Czech President Petr Pavel has taken the Meeting Brno festival under his auspices. The Office of the President of the Republic was quoted by Czech media on Monday as saying Pavel had granted his patronage to the festival, as he had done for the previous two years.