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The Czech Culture Ministry announced on Monday the winners of its annual culture awards. But an incident took place when architect Jan Kaplický said he would not accept his prize for contribution to the visual arts. Mr Kaplický’s design for a new National Library building was vetoed this year by the Culture Ministry, and in such circumstances, Mr Kaplický said, it was not right for him to accept the award. The award brings with it a prize of 300,000 crowns (16,200 USD), which the Culture Ministry has said it will donate to various artistic organizations instead. Other winners of the ministry’s awards this year include Ludvík Vaculík for his contribution to literature, and Zdeněk Šesták in the field of music.

Five investors have already shown an interest in the embattled Czech glassmakers Crystalex Nový Bor and Kavalier Sázava, the magazine Euro reported on Monday. The two firms both currently belong to Bohemia Crystalex Trading, which is on the brink of bankruptcy and therefore selling off assets. The possible buyers include Germany’s Schott, Indian-American firm Borosil and three investment funds, Euro writes. The biggest interest is said to be for Kavalier, as this firm produces glass for solar panels. Bohemia Crystalex Trading has attributed its dire financial situation to a slump in interest and the strength of the crown hurting exports.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Sunday that the elections were a slap in the face from voters, but that he was determined to fight both for his government and his place at the head of the party. He made the statement on national television in the face of criticism from senior members of his own party, who said the entire Civic Democrat leadership should resign in the face of the party’s humiliating defeat.

Two of the party’s deputy leaders, Prague mayor Pavel Bém and Agriculture Minister Petr Gandalovič said it was obvious that the blame lay with the party leadership, rather than with the regions. Mr. Bém said the Social Democrats had turned the regional elections into a referendum on the Civic Democrats’ performance on a national level and the party leadership had failed the test. It had moreover done little to combat the aggressive election campaign of the opposition Social Democrats, Mr. Bém said.

The Social Democrats have indicated that they are primarily interested in forming regional coalitions with the Christian Democrats and the Communists. Social Democrat leader Jiří Paroubek told Czech Radio on Sunday that his party intended to keep its election promises and would favour coalitions with partners for whom the Social Democrats’ policy goals would be acceptable. The Social Democrats have promised to abolish medical fees in regional hospitals, prevent their privatization and generally modify the impact of the government’s reforms on the socially weaker groups of the population.