Karel Schwarzenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karel Schwarzenberg
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Schwarzenberg as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007
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| 6th & 8th Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 13 July 2010 – 10 July 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Petr Nečas |
| Preceded by | Jan Kohout |
| Succeeded by | Jan Kohout |
| In office 9 January 2007 – 8 May 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Mirek Topolánek |
| Preceded by | Alexandr Vondra |
| Succeeded by | Jan Kohout |
| First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 13 July 2010 – 10 July 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Petr Nečas |
| Preceded by | Vlasta Parkanová |
| Succeeded by | Jan Fischer |
| Leader of TOP 09 | |
| In office 28 November 2009 – 29 November 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Inaugural holder |
| Succeeded by | Miroslav Kalousek |
| Senator from Prague 6 | |
| In office 13 November 2004 – 29 May 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Jan Ruml |
| Succeeded by | Petr Bratský |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 29 May 2010 – 21 October 2021 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 December 1937 Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) |
| Died | 12 November 2023 (aged 85) Vienna, Austria |
| Citizenship | Czech Republic, Switzerland |
| Political party | ODA (1996–2007) TOP 09 (2009–2023) |
| Spouse | Therese Hardegg |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna University of Graz University of Munich (all left prior Graduation) |
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Karel Schwarzenberg (born December 10, 1937 – died November 12, 2023) was an important Czech politician and diplomat. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic two times, first from 2007 to 2009, and then again from 2010 to 2013.
He was also a co-founder and leader of the TOP 09 political party. In 2013, he ran for President of the Czech Republic and made it to the second round of voting. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (like a parliament) from 2010 to 2021. Before that, he was a Senator from 2004 to 2010.
Karel Schwarzenberg was known for his strong support of European unity. He was also the head of the House of Schwarzenberg, a very old and important family in Europe.
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Early Life and Family History
Karel Schwarzenberg was born in Prague, which is now the capital of the Czech Republic. His family was very old and wealthy. They owned a lot of land in Bohemia (part of the Czech Republic) and Austria.
His full name was very long because of his family's history. He was the eldest son of Prince Karel VI of Schwarzenberg. The family spoke both German and Czech.
In 1948, when Karel was a child, the Communists took over Czechoslovakia. His family had to leave the country and moved to Austria. He also had Swiss citizenship. He studied law and forestry at universities in Vienna, Munich, and Graz, but he did not finish his studies.
Karel Schwarzenberg married Countess Therese zu Hardegg in 1967. They had three children. They divorced in 1988 but got married again in 2008.
Life in Exile and Human Rights Work
While living in Austria, Karel Schwarzenberg became active in politics. He was part of the conservative Austrian People's Party.
He also became a strong voice against the Communist government in his home country, Czechoslovakia. He worked hard to protect human rights. From 1984 to 1991, he was the leader of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. This group worked to stop human rights abuses in countries ruled by Communists. In 1989, he received an award for his human rights work.
Return to Czech Politics
After communism ended in Czechoslovakia in 1989, Karel Schwarzenberg returned to Prague in 1990. He became a close advisor to Václav Havel, who was the president at the time. He worked as Havel's chief of staff from 1990 to 1992.
Serving as a Senator
In 2004, Karel Schwarzenberg was elected as a Senator for Prague. He served in the Czech Senate until 2010. During this time, he was even sent away from Cuba in 2005 when he tried to meet with people who disagreed with the Cuban government.
Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic
Karel Schwarzenberg became the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in 2007. He held this job until 2009. Some people were worried because he had strong ties to Austria, but he always said he would defend Czech interests.
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In 2008, he signed an important agreement with the United States about a missile defense system. People really liked him, and he was often the most popular politician in the Czech Republic.
In 2009, he helped create a new political party called TOP 09. This party was pro-European and center-right. In the 2010 elections, TOP 09 did very well.
He became Foreign Minister again in 2010 and served until 2013.
Running for President
In 2013, Karel Schwarzenberg ran for President of the Czech Republic. This was the first time the president was chosen by a direct vote of the people. He came in second place in the first round of voting. In the final round, he lost to Miloš Zeman.
Member of Parliament
From 2010 to 2021, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies, which is like the lower house of parliament. He was also the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In 2021, he decided not to run for re-election because of his health.
After Active Politics
Even after he stopped being an active politician, Karel Schwarzenberg continued to share his opinions on important events. He gave interviews and participated in debates. In 2023, after Petr Pavel became president, Schwarzenberg became one of his advisors on foreign and domestic policy.
Later Years and Passing
Karel Schwarzenberg became ill in August 2023 with heart and kidney problems. He was hospitalized in Prague and later moved to a clinic in Vienna, Austria. He passed away there on November 12, 2023, at the age of 85.
Political Views
Karel Schwarzenberg had strong opinions on many topics.
Views on the Beneš Decrees
In 2013, during his presidential campaign, he spoke about the Beneš decrees. These were laws from 1945 that led to many Germans and Hungarians being expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. Schwarzenberg said that what happened in 1945 would be considered a serious human rights violation today.
Support for Israel
In 2008, he showed his support for Israel's right to defend itself during a conflict in Gaza.
Titles and Awards
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Karel Schwarzenberg was the 12th Prince of Schwarzenberg. This title came from his adoption into the main line of the Schwarzenberg family. In the Czech Republic and Austria, noble titles are not officially used anymore.
He received many awards for his work:
- In 1989, he received the Council of Europe Human Rights Prize.
- In 1991, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece, a very old and important award.
- In 2003, he received the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk from the Czech Republic.
- He also received awards from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
- In 2023, he received the Order of the White Lion, the highest award in the Czech Republic.
Images for kids
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Orlík Castle in South Bohemia, a family seat
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Dřevíč Castle in Central Bohemia, a personal residence of Karel Schwarzenberg
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See also
In Spanish: Karel Schwarzenberg para niños
- Palais Schwarzenberg
- Orlík nad Vltavou
- House of Schwarzenberg
