Outgoing ministers snub president

Many ministers of the outgoing centre-right government have refused an invitation from President Miloš Zeman for dinner at Prague Castle on Monday, in what is perceived as an obvious snub to the head of state in the wake of recent developments. No ministers from the TOP 09 party will be present, according to the CTK news agency, and Karolina Peake the head of LIDEM, the smallest party in government has also refused the invitation. It is not clear how many Civic Democrat ministers may show up. The centre-right coalition has criticized the head of state for ignoring the fact that the centre right parties collected 101 signatures -a majority in the lower house – in support of their nominee for prime minister Miroslava Němcová. They accuse Mr. Zeman of forming his own “puppet” cabinet.