Czech far-right party head writes PhD thesis on nationalism-press
Prague, 30.4.2007, 09:09, (ČTK)

Petra Edelmannova, chairwoman of the Czech far-right National Party (NS), writes a PhD thesis about Czech national interests, identity and nationalism in Czech politics in 2002-2006, the daily Pravo writes today.

Edelmannova, aged 28, wants to end her PhD study at Prague University of Economics (VSE) this year.

She claims she is able to make clear differences between politics and political science. “Otherwise I probably couldn’t end my studies,” she says.

Edelmannova said that at first teachers at her university department seemed to fear that she would promote her political views at classes or conferences.

“But soon everybody found out that my presentations are absolutely professional,” she told the paper.

The paper says that Edelmannova’s thesis surprisingly does not present radical views and that it even does not assess her own party positively.

Last year, the National Party wanted to place a controversial memorial to war victims at the location of the wartime internment camp for Romanies in Lety, south Bohemia.

“We believe that such people are not worth to have memorials built. We build a memorial to those who achieved something,” Pravo quotes Edelmannova as saying about the Lety victims. “When people do not observe good hygiene and then spread infectious diseases, it is in fact their fault,” she added.

According to historical documents, 326 people perished in the Lety camp and more than 500 of its inmates ended up in the extermination camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz). The NS argues that the Lety camp was only a work camp where Romanies died of common diseases.

Edelmannova is known for her radical opinions about Romanies and other races living in the Czech Republic. The paper recalls that she promotes the idea that these minorities should emigrate or return to their homeland.

“We support the emigration of Gypsies currently living in the Czech Republic to India. Racism is natural fear of danger,” Edelmannova said last year according to Pravo.

Last November, Edelmannova was detained during her party’s rally held under the slogan “Let’s Burn Muslim Hatred.”