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This year’s presentation of state awards will take place after a break required by the coronavirus pandemic and President Miloš Zeman’s health problems.
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In addition, the long-delayed ceremony will now take place in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. What exactly will the award ceremony look like and who will be missing?
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How is this year’s award different from the regular ceremony?
President Miloš Zeman did not have a plan to present the state decoration last October 28 or January 1 this year. In the end, therefore, he chose the date of March 7. The first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, was born on this day in 1850. In addition, the day after the scheduled ceremony, ie March 8, Miloš Zeman will celebrate four years since the second inauguration.
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The coronavirus pandemic and the president’s treatment at the Central Military Hospital in Prague prevented the action in its original terms. Zeman will present the state award to twice the number of winners – for the years 2020 and 2021.
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What will the transfer look like?
About 600 guests are to be present at the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle on Monday at the state awards ceremony. Relatives of the winners, constitutional officials and other members of public life were invited. They will have to wear respirators due to the anti-cancer measures in force.
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Compared to the past, the podium will be enlarged, with twice the number of winners. It will also be adapted for Zeman to move on a wheelchair.
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How will the situation in Ukraine affect the ceremony?
The shape of the day will also be affected by the war in Ukraine. “The President of the Republic decided to express solidarity with Ukraine, the traditional reception was canceled after the award ceremony was handed over,” said the head of the castle protocol, Vladimír Kruliš.
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At noon on Monday, the flag of Ukraine will be flown in the first castle courtyard and the Ukrainian and Czech national anthems will be heard. “All guests in the Vladislav Hall will also be politely asked to make a financial contribution to help the Ukrainian people,” the castle protocol added.
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Who won’t come to the ceremony?
It is already clear that some important names will be missing from the ceremony. House Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová, for example, will not arrive to protest against Zeman’s earlier attitudes towards Russia.
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“It is good that President Zeman has turned around, but I cannot forget who has been closing our eyes to Vladimir Putin’s aggressive and imperialist behavior for many years,” Pekarová Adamová explained why she would not arrive at the Castle.
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Senate President Miloš Vystrčil also rejected Zeman’s invitation. “My readiness is in the interest of the Czech Republic to participate in working meetings with President Miloš Zeman. But I don’t get invitations for those. Instead, Miloš Zeman now invites me to support his ‘I’m nothing, I’m a musician’ approach. I’m sorry, I can’t. I will not attend the gala evening at the Castle. I have too good a memory, “said Vystrčil on his Twitter.
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Jiří Růžička, Vice-President of the Senate, also refused the invitation for the same reasons. “I consider it unthinkable for me to accept the invitation at a time when Russian troops are attacking a free and democratic country, destroying it, killing it, killing civilians and threatening security throughout Europe. In addition, the host has for many years supported the hateful Russian regime and President Putin himself, and gave the impression of legitimacy of his actions, “he said.
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And the deputies of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Bartošek (KDU-ČSL) and Olga Richterová (Pirates) will also be missing. Jan Horník, Vice-President of the Senate, will not take part in the handover either. He does not want to be the staff of pro-Russian President Zeman.
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The President of the Constitutional Court, Pavel Rychetský, and the Rector of the University of Pardubice, Libor Čapek, will not take part in the award ceremony either.
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The award-winning judoka Krpálek will not arrive either – he will not find it suitable during the war in Ukraine.
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Who will be awarded?
President Miloš Zeman decided to honor 29 people, five of whom were awarded the Order of the White Lion. The highest state award belongs to the actress Jiřina Bohdalová or the cosmonaut and former ambassador to Russia Vladimír Remek.
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Petr Kellner, a businessman and owner of the PPF Group, a Czechoslovak war pilot Alexander Hess and a British politician Alfred Duff Cooper, who resigned in protest against the signing of the Munich Agreement, receive the same posthumously the same award.
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The president has also decided to award the Order of Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk, which will be received by the founder of modern Czechoslovak epidemiology, Karel Raška, who was involved in vaccinating against smallpox and eradicating the disease. Zeman honors the Czech Ambassador to Afghanistan, Jiří Baloun, and the commander of the KAMBA Military Police Unit in Afghanistan, Zdeněk Poul, with the Zeman Medal for Heroism.
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In August, both took part in the evacuation of Czechs and Afghan co-workers from the Czech Republic from Kabul. The same medal is awarded in memoriam to Staff Ensign Michael Tichá, who died last November on a foreign mission to Sinai after a helicopter crash.
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Browse the overview of all honorees for the year 2021 in the gallery:
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Another 20 scientists, artists, businessmen or war veterans receive medals for merit. Among them are Robert Kvaček, a leading figure in post-war Czech historical science, who deals with the history of the 19th and 20th centuries, economist Michal Mejstřík, who succumbed to covid-19 at the beginning of this year, and archivist and historian Vojtěch Šustek, who specializes in modern Czech history and history of resistance.
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In the field of sports, Zeman will present the medal to the most successful judoka in Czech history, Lukáš Krpálek, and tennis manager and entrepreneur Miroslav Černošek. Another distinguished businessman is Gevorg Avetisjan, the founder of the Marlenka cake factory.
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Painter Vladimír Komárek, lyricist, director and screenwriter Pavel Žák and musician and music producer Karel Vágner will be awarded in memoriam.
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