A massive crowd of protesters gathered in Prague on Sunday to demonstrate against a government-led initiative to restructure the funding model for public broadcasters. The turnout was so significant that it exceeded the capacity of the city's Old Town Square, forcing demonstrators to overflow into surrounding streets. The protest was sparked by the ruling coalition’s decision to unexpectedly advance the controversial plan in the lower house of Parliament just two days prior.
Demonstrators voiced their opposition with chants including, "We've had enough," "This must not be allowed to pass," and "4:36." Mikuláš Minář, a prominent organizer representing the Million Moments for Democracy group, addressed the crowd, stating, "You’ve gone too far, we won’t let this country be destroyed. It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36." Protesters are calling for the immediate withdrawal of the draft legislation and are demanding that Prime Minister Andrej Babiš allow for a comprehensive public debate on the matter.
The proposed changes would shift the financing of public radio and television from individual, household, and business fees to the state budget, while simultaneously reducing the media outlets' funding by approximately 15%. Critics of the plan argue that this shift provides the coalition with a mechanism to exert control over the media, drawing parallels to the actions of populist administrations in Hungary and Slovakia. Babiš and his political allies have previously faced criticism for their history of challenging mainstream and public media.
Public media staff have announced plans for a strike on November 3, receiving support from labor unions, university rectors, churches, and international media organizations. Looking ahead, demonstrators have committed to organizing a larger rally at Prague's Letná park on November 15, which falls two days before the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Babiš, who formed his governing coalition last year with two smaller political groups, has faced scrutiny over an agenda that includes rejecting certain European Union policies and reducing support for Ukraine.
