Czechs protest against government plan on public media

Cin Prague today, thousands of people have spoken against a plan by the government of the Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš to reformulate the financing of public broadcasters, for threatening to undermine the independence of the media and democracy.

The mass protest took place in Letná Park, in the capital, where large crowds gathered during the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which ended over 40 years of communist rule in the country.

The demonstration, held just two days before the anniversary of the 1989 protests, attracted some 350,000 people, said Mikuláš Minář, the main organizer of the “Million Moments for Democracy” group.

The government was required to withdraw its plan and expressed concern that Babiš and his coalition partners posed a threat to democracy.

According to the plan, public radio and television stations in the country would be financed by the state budget, replacing the existing system of regular fees paid by individuals, families and companies.

The broadcasters would receive about 15% less money than they currently receive, which could lead to redundancies, limited production and cancellation of programs.

Critics claim that this reform would give the tripartite coalition the means to take control of the media, as did the populist governments in Slovakia, under Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Hungary, before former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was removed from power in April.

“ We refused the Slovak scenario”, read in a protest band, while another asked: “Do not touch the media.”.

The government coalition advanced unexpectedly with the plan in the House of Representatives on October 24. Its Members limited the speaking time of the opposition before the vote at 4:36 a.m. to advance the bill at the first of the three parliamentary readings.

Thousands of people went out on the streets the next day to protest the hasty process, and public media officials went on strike on November 3.

The strike was supported by trade unions, universities, students, churches, artists, sportsmen and international media organizations, among others.

“ We are here to oppose the government by force in the style of 4:36,” Minář said today, referring to the time when the bill was passed.

Freedom of the press and the rule of law in the Czech Republic were debated on Wednesday in the European Parliament. European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath said that national legislation should ensure that public service funding is based on transparent and objective criteria and ensure “appropriate, sustainable and predictable financial resources”.

Babiš promised to proceed with the plan despite the protests and denied that it would affect press freedom.

The leader of the government returned to power in the Czech Republic after his movement won the country’s elections last year and formed a coalition with two small political groups – the anti-immigration and pro-Russia “Freedom and Direct Democracy” party and the right-wing party “Automobilists for Yourself”.

Babiš has opposed some key EU environmental and migration policies and rejected financial aid to Ukraine, as well as guarantees for EU loans to help it combat the Russian invasion.

His government has been criticized by NATO allies for not investing enough in defence. The demonstrators also condemned their defense policy and demanded the resignation of the Minister of Defense, Jaromír Z.