Head of lower house calls on Castle to clarify situation, backs Brady for state honour

The chairman of the lower house Jan Hamáček has backed the prime minister’s call on the head of state for Auschwitz survivor George Brady to be given a state award in recognition of his life’s work. The politician said that he hoped President Miloš Zeman would heed the call but made clear that if he did not, there were other means by which the Chamber of Deputies could honour the 88-year-old. In addition, the head of the lower house stated that he felt that Prague Castle needed to do more to clear the matter up. The culture minister, Daniel Herman, has claimed that he warned by the president that if he met with the Dalai Lama (as happened last week) his uncle George Brady would not receive the state award.

In related news, George Brady has accepted an invitation from Palácký University Olomouc which wants to recognise his life’s work with an award of its own. The news was confirmed on Monday for the Czech News Agency by the school’s rector, Jaroslav Miller and by Mr Brady’s wife, Tereza. The ceremony is likely to be scheduled for October 28th – the same day state honours will be awarded by the head of state.