Thousands rally in Prague as Czech government fast-tracks public media funding overhaul

Critics say plan threatens independence; vote passed in early hours after limited debate

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Thousands of protesters filled Prague's Old Town Square on Sunday, renewing opposition to a government plan to overhaul funding for public broadcasters, after the ruling coalition unexpectedly fast-tracked the legislation in an early-morning parliamentary vote. The demonstrators, led by the group Million Moments for Democracy, demanded the withdrawal of the draft and called for a thorough public debate.

The crowd exceeded the capacity of the historic square, spilling into nearby streets, according to reports from the protest. The anger was sparked by the government's decision two days earlier to push the bill through its first reading in the lower house of parliament at 4:36 a.m., limiting opposition debate.

"We've had enough," "This must not be allowed to pass" and "4:36," chanted the demonstrators. Mikuláš Minář, a lead organizer from Million Moments for Democracy, said: "You've gone too far, we won't let this country be destroyed." He added: "It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36."

The plan, put forward by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's coalition, would shift the financing of public radio and television from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses to direct allocations from the state budget. The proposed budget would be roughly 15% lower than current funding levels.

Critics argue the change would give the government leverage to control public media, drawing comparisons to moves by populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and in Hungary before the ouster of former premier Viktor Orbán in April. Babiš and his allies have a record of attacking public and mainstream media.

Staff at the public broadcasters have announced a strike for November 3, backed by labor unions, university rectors, churches and international media organizations. Protesters have called for a further rally at Prague's Letná park on November 15, two days before the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule. Babiš formed his coalition last year with two small parties whose agenda includes reducing support for Ukraine and opposing some key European Union policies.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The dispute touches on media independence in a Central European country that last year saw a change of government after years of populist rule.
The outcome could influence how other governments in the region approach public broadcasting funding.
The planned strike and further rallies suggest the issue will remain a major political flashpoint in the coming weeks.

Background

Czech public broadcaster funding has historically come from mandatory fees paid by households and businesses. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a billionaire businessman, returned to power last year at the head of a coalition with two smaller parties. His previous government was also marked by tensions with the media. The proposed overhaul would move funding to the state budget, a model critics say makes broadcasters vulnerable to political pressure. The timing of the vote, just before 4:36 a.m., has become a focus of protest, with demonstrators citing it as an example of procedural overreach.

Key Perspectives

Protesters and critics (Mikuláš Minář, Million Moments for Democracy, striking staff, unions and others): The plan threatens the independence of public media by giving the government control over funding, following patterns seen in Slovakia and Hungary. The early-morning vote shows a lack of democratic deliberation. Government coalition: Has advanced the bill through its first reading as part of a broader overhaul of public media funding. The coalition has a record of attacking public and mainstream media, and its agenda includes reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting certain EU policies.

What to Watch

The strike by public media staff on November 3 and its impact on broadcasting.
The November 15 rally at Letná park, which could draw even larger crowds.
Further parliamentary readings of the bill and whether the government can maintain coalition unity.

Sources

Thousands protest in Prague as government advances public media funding overhaul · The Independent UK

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedDemonstrators chanted “We've had enough,” “This must not be allowed to pass” and “4:36.”The Independent UK: ““We've had enough,” “This must not be allowed to pass” and “4:36,” the demonstrators chanted.”
SupportedMikuláš Minář said, “You've gone too far, we won't let this country be destroyed.”The Independent UK: ““You’ve gone too far, we won’t let this country be destroyed,” Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group said.”
SupportedMinář said, “It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36.”The Independent UK: ““It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36.””
SupportedThe government unexpectedly fast-tracked the public media funding plan.The Independent UK: “The ruling coalition angered the protesters by unexpectedly moving ahead with the plan in the lower house of Parliament two days ago. Coalition lawmakers hastily opened the issue”
Partly supportedThe early-hours vote passed the plan after limited debate.The Independent UK: “limited time for the opposition to take part in the debate before taking a vote to give the draft a green light in the first of three parliamentary readings at 4:36 a.m.”
SupportedCritics say the funding plan threatens public media independence.The Independent UK: “a plan by the government led by billionaire Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that many consider dangerous for their independence.”
SupportedThousands filled Prague's Old Town Square on Sunday, with the crowd spilling into nearby streets.The Independent UK: “The crowd of thousands was bigger than the picturesque Old Town Square could take with many filling the nearby streets.”
Not in the sourcesThe overflow into nearby streets was reported by “reports from the protest.”The Independent UK: “The crowd of thousands was bigger than the picturesque Old Town Square could take with many filling the nearby streets.”
Partly supportedThe demonstrators were led by Million Moments for Democracy.The Independent UK: “Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group said.”
Partly supportedThe plan would move public radio and television funding from fees to direct allocations from the state budget.The Independent UK: “According to the plan, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget, and not from regular fees from individuals, households or businesses.”
SupportedThe media would receive roughly 15% less than their current funding.The Independent UK: “The media would receive about 15% less money than they do now.”
SupportedThe plan would give the government leverage to control public media, with comparisons to Slovakia and Hungary.The Independent UK: “Critics say that change would give the coalition a means to take control of the media following the examples of populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and in Hungary”