Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Prague on Sunday against a plan by the government of Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters, a move many say will erode media independence and democracy. The protest took place at Letná Park, the same site where huge crowds gathered during the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ended more than 40 years of communist rule in the country. Organisers from the Million Moments for Democracy group estimated that about 350,000 people attended, and lead organiser Mikuláš Minář said protesters demanded the government withdraw the plan and voiced concern that Babiš and his coalition partners pose a threat to democracy.
Under the plan, the public radio and television broadcasters would be financed from the state budget instead of the existing system of regular fees paid by individuals, households and businesses. The broadcasters would receive about 15% less money than they do now, which could lead to layoffs, limited production and programme cancellations. Critics argue the overhaul would give the three-party coalition the means to take control of the media, pointing to populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and in Hungary, where former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was ousted from power in April. Protest banners read “We refuse the Slovak scenario” and “Hands off the media.”S2
The ruling coalition unexpectedly advanced the bill in the lower house of Parliament on Oct. 24, limiting opposition speaking time before a vote at 4:36 a.m. to pass the first of three required readings. Thousands took to the streets the following day to protest the rushed process, and public media employees went on strike on Nov. 3. The strike was backed by labour unions, universities, students, churches, artists, athletes and international media organisations. Minář said Sunday that the rally was a response to what he called “rule by force in the style of 4:36.”S2
The issue also reached the European Parliament, where media freedom and the rule of law in the Czech Republic were debated on Wednesday. EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath said national legislation must ensure that funding for public service media is based on transparent and objective criteria and guarantees “adequate, sustainable and predictable financial resources.” Babiš has vowed to press ahead with the plan despite the protests and has denied that it would affect media freedom.S2
