It is with deep sorrow that the Senate of the Parliament

of the Czech Republic announces the passing of

Mr Jaroslav Kubera

President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

on 20 January 2020 at the age of 72.

 

Jaroslav Kubera passed away just as he lived. Rapidly, unexpectedly, without ceremony. Small by stature, but great by his heart. Great by his kindness and amiability. Great by his knowledge, inherent authority as well as uncompromising consistency in promoting matters he considered right. He was tough and adamant in discussions, but never personal or hurtful. He literally lived the politics while enjoying it enormously. He always stayed on top of things, but this never prevented him from passionately defending the opinions he considered correct and right.

He was a sovereign conservative politician not only due to his opinions, but also due to his gentlemanly behaviour and his close relation to his family. As he often reiterated, the only thing he loved more than politics was his family. He loved it more than anything.

Jaroslav Kubera was born in Louny on 16 February 1947. He spent most of his life in the city of Teplice, where he served as a Mayor for more than twenty years. He was elected Senator for Teplice region in 2000. Throughout the years in the Senate, he served as a Chairperson of the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Committee on Mandate and Parliamentary Privilege as well as a Chairperson of the Civic Democratic Party Senate Caucus. He was elected Vice-President of the Senate in 2016 and the President of the Senate in 2018.

He significantly contributed to building respect for the upper chamber of the Czech Parliament and as its President he tirelessly promoted values such as personal freedom, democracy and market economy. His unexpected passing away is a big loss not only for the Czech Parliament, but also for the Czech political scene at which he was active for more than twenty years.

Jaroslav Kubera will undoubtedly remain one of the most noticeable personalities of the Czech political scene of the first two decades of the new millennium.