The Culture Ministry will not provide funding this year to the "Díky, že můžem" association to organise the traditional November 17 commemorations on Prague’s Národní třída. Culture Minister Oto Klempíř, who represents the Motorists’ party, told the iDNES news website that the organisers did not meet the conditions for receiving a grant this year. The association had applied for CZK 1 million.
The organisers have expressed disappointment with the ministry’s approach, but said that the planned program will go ahead in full this year.