Thousands Rally in Prague Against Government Plan to Overhaul Public Broadcasting Funding
PRAGUE — June 22, 2026 — Thousands of Czechs gathered in the capital on Sunday, June 21, to protest Prime Minister Andrej Babiš‘s government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasting, a move critics say threatens the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio .
The protesters assembled in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague, voicing their support for the media a day before staff planned to go on a warning strike, following recent protest marches in regional capitals and the capital .
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Funding Shift Sparks Independence Fears
The government approved a bill on June 15 that would scrap the current license fee system and move funding for public radio and television to the state budget starting next year .
Critics argue that this change would give the three-party coalition government a means to take control of the media, following the examples of populist governments in Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico .
“The media don‘t belong to politicians,” said Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group. “They belong to us all and we won’t allow them to be stolen from us” .
Budget Cuts and Staff Layoffs
The government plan would provide public broadcasters with approximately 15 percent less funding than they receive this year and contains no guarantees of future funding .
Czech Television’s director warned this week that the cuts could force the station to lay off between 300 and 500 of its 2,900 staff . Czech Radio would also face significant budget reductions .
The directors of public radio and television have warned that the “shocking” budget cuts would limit programming and broadcasting in the regions and for special interests .
Government Defends Reform
Prime Minister Babiš, a populist centrist billionaire, insisted that the new model would be fairer, eliminating a “flat tax” that demands poorer households pay the same as any other . He also said it would push public broadcasters to improve efficiency .
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“We have never threatened the independence of Czech Television, nor will we,” Babiš said as the bill was given the green light .
However, Babiš and members of his government have a record of attacks against public and other mainstream media, which ruling parties view as biased . The government’s agenda also includes scaling back support for Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies .
Opposition and International Concerns
Media watchdogs, analysts and the political opposition universally agree that the funding switch would be a clear threat to the independence of Czechia‘s public service media .
Vit Rakusan, leader of the opposition STAN party, labelled the proposal the “de facto nationalisation” of public media and warned it would be “devastating for the quality of democracy” .
Pavol Szalai, director of Reporters Without Borders‘ Prague bureau, told DW that “the Czech government has started to financially blackmail the public service media,” warning that the move sets the stage for “undue [political] interference” .
Growing Protest Movement
The rally on Sunday was organized by the Million Moments for Democracy group, which has been leading opposition to the government’s course. A petition organized by the group has already been signed by over 500,000 people .
The civil society group says it will continue its protests until “the politicians withdraw the controversial law” .
A similar protest in March saw around 200,000 people gather in Prague .
The heatwave affecting Prague shortened the protest route, but Czech news agency CTK estimated thousands took part, marching through neighborhoods carrying banners reading “Hands off public media” .
The bill now heads to both houses of parliament. If approved and signed by the president, the new funding system would take effect next year .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- Ukrinform: Thousands protesting in Czech Republic against government plan to overhaul funding of public broadcasters
- ThePrint: Marchers in Prague protest government’s public media funding changes
- DW: Czechia: Thousands march in support of public media funding
- South China Morning Post: Thousands rally in Prague against government‘s public broadcasting overhaul plan
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