Majority of cabinet members to be absent from Independence Day award ceremony

The vast majority of Czech cabinet ministers will not be attending the celebrations of Czechoslovak Independence Day at Prague Castle on October 28, the ctk news agency reported. Some of them, such as Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, have failed to get invitations from President Zeman, others will absent themselves in protest against his policy of handing out invitations selectively based entirely on his personal preferences. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who will be present at the annual ceremony at which the head of state hands out state distinctions, has also said he disapproves of the practice but feels he should be present at a state celebration of the founding of Czechoslovakia. There has been controversy surrounding the celebrations for several years now.