Czechia Braces for Mass Protest Over Public Media Funding Reform

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather in Prague’s Letná Park on Sunday to protest the Czech government’s proposed reform of public media funding. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s coalition government fast-tracked the bill’s first parliamentary reading during an overnight session on October 23–24, with the vote taking place at 4:36 a.m. The proposal would abolish the licence-fee system currently funding Czech Television and Czech Radio and instead finance both broadcasters directly through the state budget, while reducing their funding by around 15% in the first year. The proposal has already sparked protests and strikes across the country, including industrial action by Czech Television and Czech Radio staff.

Protesters argue that direct state funding could give the government greater influence over broadcasters’ budgets, potentially putting pressure on their editorial independence. Critics warn that the reform could weaken the independence of Czech public media, particularly given the broadcasters’ previous investigations into parties within Babiš’s governing coalition. Sunday’s protest also carries symbolic significance, taking place just two days before the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the 1989 movement that brought an end to communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Organisers therefore frame the dispute not simply as a debate over public spending, but as a broader struggle to protect media freedom and democratic institutions.

References:

Gosling, T. (2026, November 12). Czechia braces for massive protest against cuts to public media. Deutsche Welle.

Kaňuchová, T. (2026, February 5). Blackmail allegations and a million signatures: Babiš’s government already under fire. VSquare.

Strachoň, M. (2026, October 24). Ruce pryč od médií Brno 2026-10-24 (2872) [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.