From Havel to Pavel: 30 years of modern Czech state decorations
Czechia commemorates the 107th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia on October 28 with traditional ceremonies and the president’s evening award gala at Prague Castle. 48 individuals will receive state honors for their contributions to culture, science, and public life. The ceremony continues a thirty-year tradition of modern Czech state decorations established under Václav Havel in 1995.
The evening ceremony in Prague Castle’s Vladislav Hall is the symbolic high point of the Independence Day celebrations. Thirty years ago, on October 28 1995, then-president Václav Havel presented newly created state decorations for the first time: the Order of the White Lion, the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, and the Medals for Merit and Bravery.
These awards were formally established by a 1994 law and represent the highest recognition the Czech state can bestow. Orders are conferred on Czech citizens or foreigners for exceptional service, while medals acknowledge distinguished merit or heroism.
Although the tradition of honours dates back to 1922, when Czechoslovakia created its original Order of the White Lion, the modern system was designed to restore dignity to an institution that had lost prestige during the communist period, when the number of awards grew excessively and their value diminished.
Who will be honoured this year
This year’s Independence Day will see President Petr Pavel confer decorations for the third time since taking office. According to the president’s office, 48 people will be recognised — eight fewer than last year. The list remains secret until the evening of October 28, but the nominations received from parliament and the public suggest a wide range of laureates.
Among the 87 nominations submitted by the Senate and 150 from the Chamber of Deputies are figures such as Holocaust survivor Jiří Brady (poshumously), journalist, politician, and diplomat Jiří Dienstbier Sr. (posthumously), actor and diplomat Magda Vášáryová, television journalist Daniel Stach, and entertainer Marek Eben.
The president also considers proposals from individual citizens and organisations. The final selection traditionally includes personalities from culture, science, politics, and civic life. The Order of the White Lion remains the highest state distinction, followed by the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. The Medals for Merit and for Bravery recognise contributions in specific fields. A recent amendment to the law allows awards for new categories, including environmental protection, social work, health care, and volunteerism.
Tradition and controversy
Every president has put his own stamp on the award process. Václav Havel, who viewed the system as a moral recognition of civic courage, decorated more than 400 people during his presidency — a record 90 in 1998 alone. His successor Václav Klaus (2003–2013) reduced the number sharply, usually awarding between 20 and 24 honours each year.
Miloš Zeman (2013–2023) presented 394 decorations during his ten years in office, occasionally drawing criticism for politicising the choices. His final ceremony in 2022 saw an unusually high 78 recipients.
President Pavel has signalled a shift in focus. Last year he honoured 56 people, with a stronger emphasis on figures from civil society, culture, and science rather than business. Among them was former Czech Television director Petr Dvořák, a choice that sparked political debate but underscored Pavel’s intention to highlight public service over economic success.
The 2025 nominations have also revived older controversies. Culture Minister Martin Baxa proposed awarding the late Jiří Brady — a Holocaust survivor — the Order of the White Lion. Brady became a symbol of political dispute in 2016, when then-president Zeman reportedly refused to honour him after a meeting between Brady’s nephew, minister Daniel Herman, and the Dalai Lama. The affair turned into one of the most publicised scandals surrounding Czech state awards in the post-1989 period.
Independence Day ceremonies across the country
The Independence Day events begin in the morning with a commemorative act at the National Monument at Vítkov Hill in Prague. President Pavel will attend alongside outgoing prime minister Petr Fiala, defence minister Jana Černochová, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka, and military veterans. Later, the president will appoint new generals — among them the head of Military Intelligence Petr Bartovský, to be promoted to lieutenant general.
In the evening, roughly 2,000 guests are expected at Prague Castle, though only about 650 will fit inside the historic Vladislav Hall. The list of invitees includes senior state officials, diplomats, cultural figures, and representatives of the armed forces.
Across Czechia, towns and cities will host commemorations and cultural events — from lantern parades in Plzeň to concerts and the annual Sokol Run of the Republic, now held at nearly ninety locations nationwide.
For President Pavel, a retired general himself, the October 28 ceremony carries both civic and personal symbolism. In his speech last year he reminded audiences that Czechia is enjoying “the longest period of freedom, peace, and prosperity in its modern history,” and he urged citizens not to retreat into apathy but to remain active participants in public life. As the republic marks 107 years since its birth — and 30 years since the revival of modern state honours — the ceremony once again links Czechia’s turbulent history with its democratic present.
Related
-
President Pavel: Czechia needs politicians with a vision and courage
On Czechoslovak Independence Day on October 28, President Pavel handed out awards and high state distinctions to 56 people for outstanding services to the state.
