Prague Crowds Rally Against Government’s Media Funding Plan
WHO:
Al Jazeera - The protests opposed a funding bill proposed by the governing coalition led by billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis, which includes two far-right parties.
ABC News - The protests opposed a plan by the government led by billionaire Andrej Babiš; the crowd included thousands of Czechs.
ABC News - Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group, addressed the protesters.
Al Jazeera - Public media staff announced a strike, backed by labour unions, university rectors, churches, international media organisations and others.
ABC News - Public media staff announced a strike, backed by labor unions, university rectors, churches, international media organizations and others.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - Several thousand people protested against legislation to abolish household licence fees and replace them with state budget allocations for public radio and television.
ABC News - Thousands rallied against a funding overhaul that would finance public radio and television from the state budget instead of regular fees paid by individuals, households or businesses.
Al Jazeera - The lower house approved fast-tracking the bill in an overnight vote; the legislation must still pass the upper house before becoming law.
ABC News - Coalition lawmakers gave the draft a green light in the first of three parliamentary readings. The media would receive about 15% less funding.
Al Jazeera - The opposition pledged to challenge the legislation in the constitutional court.
ABC News - Protesters demanded withdrawal of the draft and called on Babiš to enable thorough public debate.
ABC News - Minář said, “You’ve gone too far, we won’t let this country be destroyed,” and described decisions made at 4:36 as characteristic of “mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo.”
Al Jazeera - Protesters chanted, “We’ve had enough”, “This must not be allowed to pass”, and “4:36”.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - The protest took place in Prague’s Old Town Square.
ABC News - The crowd filled Prague’s Old Town Square and nearby streets; a further rally was planned at Letná park.
WHEN:
Al Jazeera - The lower-house vote occurred at 4:36 a.m. on Saturday; protesters rallied on Sunday.
ABC News - The vote took place at 4:36 a.m.; the article describes the rally as occurring on Sunday.
Al Jazeera - Public media staff announced a strike for November 3.
ABC News - Public media staff announced a strike for Nov 3.
Al Jazeera - A rally was planned for November 15, two days before the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
ABC News - Protesters vowed to rally on Nov. 15, two days before the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Protesters said the funding plan threatened press freedom; critics warned it could enable the governing coalition to control public media.
ABC News - Critics said the proposed change could give the coalition a means to control the media and endanger broadcaster independence.
Al Jazeera - Babis said the proposal was about funding transparency, not an attack on media independence.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - The proposed change would replace household licence fees with allocations from the state budget and cut public-media funding by about 15%, possibly as early as next year.
ABC News - Coalition lawmakers hastily advanced the bill, limiting opposition time for debate before the vote.
ABC News - The coalition formed with two small political groups whose agenda includes reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 02:18 UTC)
Thousands of people filled Prague’s Old Town Square and nearby streets to protest a government plan to change how public radio and television are funded. Led by billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the governing coalition wants to replace household licence fees with state budget allocations, cutting public-media funding by about 15 percent. Protesters said the change could threaten press freedom and broadcaster independence, while Babiš said it was intended to make funding more transparent. Coalition lawmakers advanced the bill in an overnight vote at 4:36 a.m., limiting time for debate; it still needs approval from the upper house. The opposition has vowed to challenge the legislation in constitutional court. Mikuláš Minář, an organizer with Million Moments for Democracy, addressed the crowd, which demanded the draft be withdrawn. Public-media staff announced a strike for November 3, backed by unions and other groups. Protesters also pledged to rally again on November 15.