President-elect Petr Pavel with his wife Eva (left) with current president Miloš Zeman and his wife Ivana at a joint lunch before Pavel's inauguration, March 9, 2023, Prague Castle.
Prague – The program related to today's Pavlo's inauguration began at Prague Castle with the lunch of President-elect Petr Pavl with current President Miloš Zeman. In the Golden Dining Room of Prague Castle, Pavel and Zeman have lunch with their wives Eva Pavlova and Ivana Zemanová. According to ČTK information, broth and tenderloin are served.
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Photo gallery: President-elect Petr Pavel and his inauguration
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Less than two hours are reserved for lunch in the program. At the beginning of the meeting, the outgoing president should symbolically hand over the Order of the White Lion and the Order of Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk to his successor, which he will be the bearer of according to law. He will also hand over to him the presidential key to the Crown Chamber, in which, among other things, the crown jewels are kept.
Zeman's second five-year mandate ended at midnight, Pavel will assume the office of president by taking the oath at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle . In the meantime, the powers of the head of state fell mainly to Prime Minister Petar Fial (ODS), some to Speaker of the House Markéta Pekarová Adamová (TOP 09) and Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS).
Together with his wife Ivana, Zeman will also attend Pavlo's inauguration. They will come to the Vladislav Hall together with Václav Klaus, Livia Klausová and Dagmar Havlova. During the ceremony, they will sit together in the first row among the guests.
An archival copy of the Constitution of the Czech Republic was transferred to the Vladislav Hall
An archival copy of the Constitution of the Czech Republic was brought to the Vladislav Hall today after 11:00 a.m. under police escort. With his hand resting on the constitution, the new president Petr Pavel will take his presidential oath. This year, the text of the pledge is written in calligraphic script, the plates of the constitution are made of duralumin and brass. Pavel will sign the promise with a pen that was specially made for the occasion of the inauguration.
Pavel will take his oath in the hands of Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) at a joint meeting of both parliamentary chambers, which will take place in the Vladislav Hall from 2:00 p.m. Before the arrival of Pavel and his wife, ensigns from the Castle Guard will bring historical ensigns to the sound of the Hussite chant Who are God's warriors. The officers of the Castle Guard will also bring the insignia of the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and the Order of the White Lion. The honor guard will bring the national flag and the presidential standard into the hall. There will be fanfare.
President-elect Pavel will take his oath and take office today
The Czech Republic will have a new head of state starting this afternoon. After taking the oath, Petr Pavel, who won the direct election in January, will officially become the president. The current president Miloš Zeman's second term of office expired at midnight today.
Pavel will arrive at Prague Castle shortly before noon, his first steps will lead through the Giants' Gate, which was closed at midnight to mark the temporary vacancy of the presidential office. At noon, together with his wife Eva, he plans to have lunch with Zeman and his wife Ivana.
The pledge is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at a joint meeting of both chambers of Parliament. It will traditionally be held in the Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle in the presence of about 800 guests. In addition to MPs and senators, it will also be attended by other public figures including, for example, ambassadors, representatives of the judiciary or rectors.
Pavel will place his vow in the hands of Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS), and he plans to recite it by heart. They must then confirm it with a handshake and signature. This will be followed by a speech lasting about twenty minutes.
After the inauguration, Pavel will greet the public from the balcony in the third castle courtyard and lay a flower next to the statue of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigu Masaryk. This will be followed by a glass of wine in the Spanish Hall, where about 2,500 people have been invited. The festive afternoon will end with a prayer in the St. Vitus Cathedral.
On Friday, Pavel wants to start exercising his presidential powers when he appoints Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) as Minister of the Environment in the morning. On Monday, he will leave for his first foreign visit, traditionally leading to Slovakia.
