Prague Protesters Block Government Plan to Replace Media License Fees

Thousands marched through Prague this past Sunday to block new funding rules for public broadcasters. Demonstrators say these changes endanger press freedom. They face a government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his coalition, which includes two far-right groups. The plan aims to scrap household licence fees and replace them with direct budget allocations from the state. Critics argue this shift hands control of media to politicians.

Parliament fast-tracked the bill Saturday night in a rare overnight vote. Rushing the issue left opposition lawmakers little time to debate before the gavel fell at 4:36 AM. The lower house approved it quickly, but the upper house must still sign off for it to become law. Babis claims the move ensures transparency rather than attacking independence. Opponents see a different story. They warn this mirrors tactics used by Viktor Orban in Hungary and Robert Fico in Slovakia.

Under the current plan, public media funding could drop roughly 15 percent as soon as next year. Staffers at Czech public broadcasters have declared a strike for November 3. Unions, university rectors, churches, and international organizations stand behind them. The government also seeks to reduce aid to Ukraine while fighting Russia's invasion. This stance comes alongside documented attacks against the press.

Protesters in Old Town Square chanted slogans like "We've had enough" and "This must not be allowed to pass." One cry referenced that specific early morning hour when parliament acted without full debate. The opposition vows to challenge the bill in the constitutional court. Another rally is set for November 15 in Letna park. That date sits two days before the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which ended over four decades of communist rule in 1989. Access to news matters deeply, yet this proposal threatens to limit what citizens can hear and read.