Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Bartošek (KDU-ČSL), who heads the subcommittee for the preparation of proposals for granting or awarding state honors, came up with a proposal to expand the categories of Medals of Merit.
Newly, it could also be awarded for merits in the field of the environment, international relations, social, charitable, volunteering and healthcare. In addition, the award would not be strictly bound by these categories, their list would only be indicative, similar to the highest state award.
“The idea arose during the discussion of nominations in the subcommittee, because there came interesting names and biographies with a proposal for awarding the Medal of Merit. The current law, which contains an exact list of what it can be awarded for, does not allow this,” Bartošek told Novinkám.
They saved passengers from a burning train, they received a medal at the Castle
Homemade
The government should discuss the proposal in January, then the House of Representatives could approve it in an accelerated procedure. The law is proposed to be effective from October 1, 2025, so it would already be applied at this year’s awarding on October 28, the Day of the Establishment of Independent Czechoslovakia.
At present, the president has the possibility, given by law, to award the Medal of Merit to those who have contributed to the state or self-governing unit in the economic field or in the fields of science, technology, culture, art, sport, education and education, defense or security of the state and citizens.
Last year, for example, hockey player Roman Červenka, rock singer Petr Janda, singer Marie Rottrová and actors Ivan Trojan and Ondřej Vetchý received Medals of Merit.
Category is missing
Last year, the doctor and founder of the non-profit organization LOONO Kateřina Šédová also received the award, however, due to the absence of a medical category, she received the medal for the field of science. Entrepreneur, philanthropist and co-founder of the Good Angel Foundation, Petr Sýkora, received an award for culture.
According to the reasoned report, the expansion of the areas could also contribute to an increase in the number of medals awarded to women, who are a minority among the awardees. “Up to and including 2023, a total of 728 people received the Medal of Merit, of which 135 were women, i.e. 18.5 percent,” the report states.
The Medal of Merit would also not be divided into three grades, so that, among other things, it would not be awarded repeatedly to the same person in different grades. Bartošek also pointed out that some presidents, for example Miloš Zeman, did not use the division. Also last year, President Pavel gave out awards only in the first degree.
The form of the award would remain the same as its current first degree, i.e. a gilded silver medal on a yellow ribbon with one purple stripe.
According to Bartošek, President Petr Pavel also agreed to update the thirty-year-old law during a preliminary meeting last August. Senate President Miloš Vystrčil also has a positive attitude towards him. “It is good that no area that deserves to be recognized with a state award should be left out. In my opinion, this is a shortcoming that, if we eliminate it, it will only be a good thing,” Vystrčil told Novinka.
PHOTO: State honors were awarded. How did the festive evening at the Castle look like?
Homemade
