President signs bill on establishing institute for study of totalitarian regimes

President Klaus has signed a bill proposing the establishment of an institute for the study of totalitarian regimes. The institution, to be created before the end of the year, is to examine the Communist and Nazi eras. It is expected to collect, analyze and make accessible to the public documents relating to the totalitarian periods of the country's history. The establishment of the institute was vehemently opposed by left wing politicians, who claimed it would be a waste of tax-payer's money and would make it possible to politically influence the interpretation of history.