President Zeman hosts dinner for outgoing government

President Miloš Zeman is hosting a dinner at Prague Castle on Monday for the outgoing centre-right cabinet of prime minster Petr Nečas. Among those who have accepted his invitation are the outgoing prime minister, environment minister Tomáš Chalupa, education minister Petr Fiala, defense minister Vlastimil Picek who is to remain in office in the Rusnok caretaker administration and the head of the government’s legislative council Petr Mlsna. A number of ministers have refused to attend in what is seen as an obvious snub to the head of state, whom the centre-right parties accuse of establishing a presidential “puppet” administration.