Thousands protest in Prague over public media funding reforms

Several thousand people gathered in Prague on Sunday to protest against plans to change the funding system for the Czech Republic’s public television and radio, accusing the government of stifling press freedom.

The Czech lower house of parliament voted on Saturday to fast-track a bill that would abolish household licence fees for public media and replace them with direct allocations from the state budget. The legislation, backed by the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, must still be passed by the upper house before becoming law.

The opposition has pledged to challenge the legislation in the constitutional court. Under the proposed reform, state television and radio would see their budgets cut by around 15%.

In Prague’s Old Town Square, protesters said politicians wanted to restrict press freedom. “No one wants to interfere with programming or news coverage,” Babis wrote on X on Saturday, adding that the funds would be guaranteed directly by law as a mandatory expenditure.

President Petr Pavel, who has often clashed with Babis, said public service media were among the fundamental pillars of democracy and that hasty steps that could not be reversed should not be taken. The European Broadcasting Union, the European Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the International Press Institute are among the organisations that have criticised the plans.

A larger demonstration is planned in Prague on 15 November, protest organisers said.

Sources: Agence France-Presse via Manila Times | Al Jazeera | Free Malaysia Today