Celebrations and anti-government protests on Czechoslovak Independence Day

People around the country are celebrating Czechoslovak Independence Day, marking the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918.  The country’s top officials, representatives of the army, church dignitaries and cultural figures attended a ceremony at Prague’s Vitkov Memorial on Friday morning, laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay homage to those who laid down their lives for the country. Commemorative ceremonies were also held at the graveside of the country’s first president, Tomáš .G. Masaryk in Lany and his statue on Hradčany Square. Smaller-scale celebrations have been taking place around the country including outdoor happenings, lantern parades and concerts.

The celebrations will culminate with an award giving ceremony at Prague Castle on Friday evening at which President Zeman will present high state distinctions to outstanding personalities from different walks of life. The list of laureates for 2022 is being kept under wraps but it has been officially announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will receive the Order of the White Lion, the highest state honour in the Czech Republic, in absentia. Among those expected to get state distinctions are Ivan Lendl and the late Ivana Trump.

The public holiday has also been marked by anti-government demonstrations in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and a number of other cities. The protests are linked to the energy crisis and soaring inflation. Police are out in force to maintain order.

In Prague tens of thousands of protesters gathered on Wenceslas Square to call for the demise of the Fiala government. They held up slogans reading “Czechia First” and slammed the administration for helping Ukraine beyond the country’s means and neglecting its own citizens.